Quick thinking saves Yuman's life

A device at a Yuma gym helped save a man's life Wednesday and he's alive today because of the quick thinking of a fellow gym member.

Yuman Brittany Ebersole was working out Wednesday at Club Yuma Fitness Center when a fellow gym member's heart stopped.

"He was playing racquetball, and he just collapsed," said Ebersole, who helped administer care from an Automated External Defibrillator, or AED.

Another gym member witnessed the man collapse and rushed for help and got Ebersole, who is a paramedic with Rural/Metro in Yuma.

After receiving care, the man was walking and talking before paramedics took him to Yuma Regional Medical Center, where he is currently in stable condition.

According to a news release from the YFD, personnel responded to Club Yuma just after 5 p.m. Wednesday.

Ebersole and others, including club owner and director Nancy Patterson, helped give the 71 year-old man care Wednesday — and the AED helped save the man's life.

The pair spoke with the Yuma Sun Thursday and demonstrated how the device works.

Mike Erfert, public information officer with the Yuma Fire Department (YFD), said the machine is very easy to use. Erfert said the devices started out in operating rooms and with medical personnel, and now they're in businesses, schools and other locations.

The machine walks the caregiver through step by step instructions and even reads the person's pulse.

"It's down to where the average citizen without medical training can use them," he said, adding it's an important part of the "chain of survival."

It's the third step, he said, following calling 911 and starting chest compressions.

"You're re-establishing circulation," Erfert said.

Ebersole said "early defibrillation is key to survival."

And that's just what happened Wednesday.

Patterson said it's recommended in the fitness world to have AEDs in gyms and though they cost just more than $1,000, having one on hand is priceless.

"I think that every business should have one."

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Stephanie A. Wilken can be reached at swilken@yumasun.com or 539-6857.