Becky....I will answer you here and your email you sent me in the morning.
I'm pooped and going to bed right now.
Thanks for your help!

Sandshaker...go to bed - you work too hard for someone living in paradise!! Getting some equipment is a real possibility - I have delved into it a little more.....the Lifepack you mentioned contains a defibrillator too.....is this needed or do they have a separate defib unit? Check with the folks there when you have a chance - let me know and I will pursue this possibility - might know of a guy who has good used equip. that will either donate or sell to us (which my family can buy and donate) for a really low price - he has helped people in Mexico when they have had needs so we will see??!!

Go to bed...and no more posting at 4:30 am tonight!
Becky

No defibrilator here now. The best possible equipment would be one of those new talking monitor/defib units that anyone could use... but any equipment of any sort would be better than nothing.
I just read an article in this mornings Houston Chronicle "Lifesaving equipment to be sold online" where CVS Corp. will sell portable defibrillators on its website "CVS.com" cost= $2,999 made by Agilent Technologies Inc. There's also an excellent article by Associated Press showing many lives could be saved with this type of equipment.

Oct. 26, 2000, 11:03AM


Public heart-shocking devices would save lives, study shows
Associated Press

Putting defibrillators in airplanes, casinos and other crowded places -- and teaching people like flight attendants and security guards how to use the devices -- can save dramatic numbers of people in cardiac arrest, two studies show.

The automated heart-shocking devices saved nearly half of all victims in the two studies.

RESOURCES
• Chart: How the portable defibrillator works
(Requires Flash 4 plug-in)

About 250,000 Americans die each year of cardiac arrest, which is usually caused by a heart rhythm disturbance called ventricular fibrillation. For each minute that passes without a defibrillator shocking the heart back into a normal rhythm, survival chances drop 10 percent.

Despite that, many police and fire department vehicles, ambulances and nursing homes are not equipped with the laptop-size devices, which give an EKG readout and tell the operator whether the person needs a shock, how to apply the pads and when to press the button.

The devices are so simple to use that an earlier study of simulated cardiac arrest cases found that sixth-graders, once trained, needed only 27 seconds more than paramedics to accomplish defibrillation.

The two new studies appear in today's issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

In one, defibrillator-trained security guards at 32 Nevada and Mississippi casinos tried to save patrons whose hearts and breathing had stopped.

In the 90 cases where ventricular fibrillation was to blame and the patients' collapse was witnessed, 59 percent were resuscitated and survived to go home from the hospital.

Seventy-four percent of those shocked within three minutes survived, compared with 49 percent of those who had to wait longer, said Dr. Terence D. Valenzuela, a professor of emergency medicine at the University of Arizona, who led the study.

In the other study, researchers examined the use of in-flight defibrillators between 1997 and 1999 by American Airlines.

In 13 cases where the device indicated a passenger was in ventricular fibrillation and the person was shocked, every one was resuscitated. Forty percent survived to leave the hospital later.

Jesse - okay so a unit with a defib would be best ....I think I can get one for even less than the $2900+ - but I don't think we can get one of the new devices you are talking about for inexpensive or donated....the talking ones and the newer AED or automated devices like the article mentions are still pretty expensive....but at this point any equipment is better than none right? I think I can locate a cardiac monitor that has ECG capabilities and a defib unit that can be run by a doctor or nurse and perhaps a pulse oximeter reading too - to get one that does automatic blood pressure might raise the cost - so I figure the blood pressure can still be taken manually. Something to monitor patients and help the doctors/nurses make a decision whether to evacuate them or not - and by your post obviously something to use in the event of complete cardiac arrest. Do you have lot of children there too? I am wondering if a pediatric or neonatal attachment would be beneficial? Oh well - I will see what I can round up? Any answer to my question about the nonprofit status? Is the clinic actually run by the The Lions Club and is this the same Lions Club in the States - if so - I think this will qualify to donate items too....??
Becky

The Lions Club does actually run the clinic and is a branch of the same organization as in the US. There are several Lions branches in the US that are directly connected with the relief effort in San Pedro. Perhaps Sandshaker can look into this as I'm still in Houston.

[This message has been edited by Jesse (edited 10-26-2000).]

Becky,
The DeSoto, Texas Loins Club Boy Scout Troup #141 has agreed to accept donations for the Hurricane Keith Relief effort. Most Lions Clubs are not 501-c(3). For more info contact me at ehask@airmail.net

here is an excellent portable defibrillator..
http://www.chron.com/content/news/photos/00/10/26/defib/popup.htm

Wait a minute! 2fromTexas, you're telling us you plan on bringing several elderly people(your MOTHER included!) with cardiac issues, etc. to a place with limited medical facilities; and if it has a D-fib.by the time you arrive(which at the moment it doesn't), you expect a rescue of said relative by person or persons of unknown qualifications??? You ARE an adventurous and trusting soul...don't forget the bible!

Hey, forgive my "Big City" intrusion...I just loved my mother, and wouldn't have jeopardized her safety for one damned moment. Different strokes for different folks...

[This message has been edited by Daemyon (edited 10-27-2000).]

Actually Daemyon, my Mother's heart problem is not USUALLY (note I say usually as you never know) - the kind that would require a defibrillator.....my concern was simply to have some equipment that could shed light in an emergency situation as to how critical the emergency is.....ie a monitor to record rythym and oxygen etc...but while I am at it - Jesse and Sandshaker are right - the island itself should have a defibrillator and with the scuba diving should also have a way to monitor blood oxygen - so if I can find something that helps out everyone then that is even better!
As to the qualified person(s) running the equipment - I hope your doctors would know what to do with it right?! After all, I question how qualified half the docs my Mom has seen here in the States ! Even if it does not work out to bring my older relatives down now - we plan on visiting - and you are so easy to get to from Texas maybe we can make this a frequent deal??!!
As for the Bible - well -traveling with 6 Aunts/Uncles/Parents over the age of 75 - I think I need that anyway!!! LOL
Becky