(BOP) - Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States. It kills more than 1,000 people a day, or one person every 90 seconds. Deaths from cardiac arrest exceed the number of deaths each year from breast cancer, lung cancer, or stroke. Effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) by a bystander immediately after sudden cardiac arrest can double or triple a victim's chance of survival.
The Bureau of Prisons provides CPR/AED training to all staff working in federal prisons and recognizes the positive impact the training has on saving lives. Through high quality training and teamwork, Bureau staff are prepared and able to act quickly. The following are some examples from recent months.
FEDERAL PRISON CAMP (FPC) DULUTH, MINNESOTA
In January, a 45 year-old inmate was found unresponsive in the FPC Duluth gym. A Food Service staff member was first on the scene and began administering CPR.
Additional staff responded and assisted with resuscitation efforts. An AED was used to deliver one shock to the inmate. Staff continued CPR until the local ambulance
service arrived and took over resuscitation efforts. The inmate was admitted to the local hospital where he was found to have a heart defect requiring surgery. Thanks
to the properly trained staff at the institution, the inmate returned to FPC Duluth and is currently alive and well.
FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX (FCC) OAKDALE, LOUISIANA
In February, an inmate in the dining hall of the FCC Oakdale Camp experienced cardiac arrest. A Correctional Officer administered two shocks with an AED prior to the arrival
of medical staff. Staff performed CPR and a third shock was delivered restoring the inmate's pulse. The inmate was transported to the local hospital and is expected to make
a full recovery.
UNITED STATES PENITENTIARY (USP) LEWISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA
In February, a staff member was found unresponsive in an office at USP Lewisburg, with no pulse and no sign of breathing. The responding staff began CPR and he was revived.
Responding institution medical staff applied AED pads to monitor him, pending the arrival of the local EMS. The staff member again became unresponsive and CPR was initiated a
second time until he was successfully revived. He was transported to a local medical center for treatment and was discharged two days later.
FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX (FCC) COLEMAN, FLORIDA
In March, an inmate at FCC Coleman collapsed and responding staff found he had no pulse. Staff initiated CPR and administered two shocks with an AED before the inmate's pulse was
restored. The inmate went into cardiac arrest again, requiring seven additional shocks before being revived. The inmate was transported to a local hospital and received bypass surgery.
He is currently in rehabilitation and is expected to make a full recovery.
While these are just a few recent examples of lives being saved in the Bureau of Prisons, we would like to recognize all staff for their quick responses and proficient CPR and AED use during emergencies.