October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month - this one goes out to Paul Wylie!

 

Let's face it, October is a busy month - (I'm looking at you pumpkin spice) and along with the month for Fair Trade, Breast Cancer, Vegetarian Awareness, International Walk to School (Canada only), and I kid you not, National Outdoor Lighting month (really, not December?) it's Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month.

So if you bear with me, I'm taking time out of my usual casting notices or reunion updates to address something dear and literally near to my heart.

that's not an ipod in my pocket                      

 

Yes, Paul Wylie and myself are lucky survivors of Sudden Cardiac Arrest.  It's different than a heart attack where blood is blocked going to and from the heart.  Sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart stops beating.  A person often passes out.  Sudden collapse.  Especially on a young person, that's not usual.  Quick intervention from CPR and an automated external defibrillator (AED), can increase the survival rate by 90%.

So CPR is crucial here.  If the moment ever comes, lock your hands together and press hard.  Sing the song "Staying Alive" by the BeeGees and press to the beat.  You're manually pushing blood to the brain which can prevent brain damage.  And of course, if there's an AED nearby, use it.  The machine talks you through the procedure.

 I also watched a bunch of AED and CPR videos (which was pretty depressing) so I can bring you one of the better and shorter videos.  Seriously, watch this and you'll feel more prepared.  It's very informative and spells out the difference between continuous chest compression CPR and regular CPR.  Watch the whole thing.  Please. 

I hope I can speak for Paul Wylie when I say, we thank you.