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Officers honored for saving life of fellow Officer's wife

Miami Township Police Officer Greg Jenkins and Officer Holly Souhrada honored

MIAMI TOWNSHIP, Clermont County -- In the early morning hours of August 12, Miami Township Police Officer Greg Jenkins, Officer Holly Souhrada and Sergeant Al Fatute were dispatched to a 911 open line at the home of fellow Officer Keith Bullock's residence. While en route, the dispatcher was providing updates and advised that a 32-year-old female at the scene was unconscious and was not breathing. The person was the wife of Officer Bullock, Christine Bullock.

Officer Greg Jenkins

Officer Holly Souhrada

Officer Jenkins was first to arrive on the scene. He grabbed his police cruiser's portable Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and entered the home, where he found Officer Bullock in the entryway attempting to revive his wife by means of CPR. Mrs. Bullock appeared to be in full cardiac arrest. She was not breathing and she had no pulse. Officer Jenkins immediately opened his portable AED and assisted Officer Bullock in applying the heartstart pads to her chest. A computer inside the AED analyzes the patient's heart rhythm and determines if a shock is required to save the victim. If a shock is required, the AED uses voice instructions to guide the user through saving the person's life. Upon activating the AED, it first analyzed Mrs. Bullock's vital signs then announced, "Shock Advised" indicating that the patient was, in fact, void of any regular heartbeat.

Officer Jenkins then administered the shock to the patient. Officer Souhrada had arrived on scene and entered the residence just after the shock was administered. The AED advised to begin CPR. Officer Souhrada began chest compressions while Officer Bullock administered the breaths. Officer Jenkins verbally coached the officers and monitored the AED activity. After completing the recommended cycles Officer Jenkins directed them to cease CPR and check for vital signs. Mrs. Bullock was still not breathing on her own and still had no pulse.

When a person has a sudden cardiac arrest ("SCA"), their heart's regular rhythm becomes chaotic or arrhythmic. Defibrillate within 3 minutes and the chances of survival are 70%. Every minute that the heart is not beating lowers the odds of survival by 7% to 10%. After 10 minutes without defibrillation very few people survive. Brain death can begin to occur in 4 to 6 minutes. It is estimated that over 450,000 people suffer from SCA and that only 3-5% survive because an AED can't be located and used within the 3-5 minute window of opportunity for the first shock to be administered.

Offices Bullock and Souhrada immediately began compressions and breaths for another full cycle until the AED advised to check for vital signs a second time. At that point, Officer Souhrada began to detect a faint pulse. Mrs. Bullock began to make gurgling sounds as if she was trying to breath. The officers readjusted her head to better open her airway. She began to breath on her own and Officer Souhrada could feel her heartbeat get stronger and more rapid. A short while later, EMS personnel arrived on the scene and attempted to aid Mrs. Bullock in regaining consciousness but were unsuccessful. She was transported to Bethesda North Hospital where she remained in serious condition in the intensive care unit for most of the following day.

By 7 p.m. that eveining, Mrs. Bullock had regained consciousness and was speaking with her family and was in good spirits. Apparently, the Bullock's home alarm system went off in the middle of the night, the actions of the loud noise and Christine Bullock quickly rising to check on her children caused her heart to go into SDA. The attending physician advised Officer Bullock that without the quick response by officers, equipped with an AED, it is highly unlikely that his wife would have survived. As a result of the quick response by Officers Jenkins and Souhrada, coupled with their ability to remain calm and professional during this highly stressful event, Mrs. Bullock's breathing and pulse were restored.

It is during those first crucial minutes after a patient suffers cardiac arrest that determine the final outcome. In short, it is literally the difference between life and death. Mrs. Bullock did not experience an immediate full recovery at the scene, but there is no doubt that the actions taken by these offers gave her the best chance of recovery from her critical condition.

For their actions that night in saving the life of a fellow police officer's wife, Miami Township Police Officer Greg Jenkins and Officer Holly Souhrada will receive commendations from the department and the township.

While these officers respond with a modest downplay of their actions when questioned by others about the incident, and clearly do not seek to be glorified for their actions, I can think of no recent event more deserving of formal recognition. The actions of these officers demonstrated outstanding diligence and professionalism and prevented the imminent death of another. There is no question that their actions saved Mrs. Bullock's life that morning.

FAQ ON AEDS

QUESTION: What is an AED?
ANSWER: AED stands for "Automated External Defibrillator." An AED is used to administer an electric shock to a person who is having a cardiac arrest. AEDs are designed to allow non-medical personnel to save lives.

QUESTION: How does an AED work?
ANSWER: Two pads, connected to the AED, are placed on the patient's chest. A computer inside the AED analyzes the patient's heart rhythm and determines if a shock is required to save the victim. If a shock is required, the AED uses voice instructions to guide the user through saving the person's life.

QUESTION: Why do we need AEDs?
ANSWER: AEDs save lives. When a person has a sudden cardiac arrest ("SCA"), their heart's regular rhythm becomes chaotic or arrhythmic. Every minute that the heart is not beating lowers the odds of survival by 7% to 10%. After 10 minutes without defibrillation very few people survive. It is estimated that over 450,000 people suffer from SCA and that only 3-5% survive because an AED can't be located and used within the 3-5 minute window of opportunity for the first shock to be administered.

QUESTION: What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)?
ANSWER: Sudden cardiac arrest is when the heart's normal heart rhythm suddenly becomes chaotic. The heart can no longer pump the blood effectively and the victim collapses, stops breathing, becomes unresponsive, and has no detectable pulse. When used on a victim of SCA, the AED can be used to administer a life-saving electric shock that restores the heart's rhythm to normal.

QUESTION: Is SCA the same as a heart attack?
ANSWER: No. Both the heart attack (myocardial infarction) and a sudden cardiac arrest have to do with the heart, but they are different problems. SCA is an electrical problem; a heart attack is a "plumbing" problem. Sometimes a heart attack, which may not be fatal in itself, can trigger a sudden cardiac arrest.

QUESTION: Who can have a SCA?
ANSWER: Anyone, anytime. Children can have SCAs, teenagers can have SCAs, athletes can have SCAs, old people can have SCAs. Although the risk of SCA increases with age and in people with heart problems, a large percentage of the victims are people with no known risk factors.

QUESTION: What does the American Heart Association say about AEDs?
ANSWER: The AHA strongly supports having AEDs in public areas such as sports arenas, office complexes, schools, doctors' offices, shopping malls, airports, and other public places. The AHA also advocates that all police and fire and rescue vehicles be equipped with an AED.

QUESTION: What is the recommended treatment for SCA?
ANSWER: Defibrillation is the only treatment proven to restore a normal heart rhythm.

QUESTION: How much time do I have to respond if someone has a sudden cardiac arrest?
ANSWER: Only minutes. Defibrillate within 3 minutes and the chances of survival are 70%. After 10 minutes, the chances of survival are negligible. Brain death can begin to occur in 4 to 6 minutes.

QUESTION: I know CPR; wouldn't it help?
ANSWER: CPR only buys a little more time, potentially giving the victim a small amount of extra time until a defibrillator arrives. But SCA ultimately requires a shock to restore a normal heart rhythm. As a result, most CPR training now also includes AED training. With AED devices, rescuers are guided through the CPR process both before and after the first shock is delivered.

AED Machines Are Easy to Use
QUESTION: Is an AED complicated to use?
ANSWER: AEDs are very easy to use. An AED can be used by practically anyone who has been shown what to do. In fact, there are a number cases where people with no training at all have saved lives.

QUESTION: Can a non-medical person make a mistake when using an AED?
ANSWER: AEDs are safe to use by anyone who has been shown how to use them. The AED's voice guides the rescuer through the steps involved in saving someone; for example, "apply pads to patient's bare chest" (the pads themselves have pictures of where they should be placed) and "press red shock button." Furthermore, safeguards have been designed into the unit precisely so that non-medical responders can't use the AED to shock someone who doesn't need a shock.

QUESTION: Can the AED itself make a mistake?
ANSWER: It is unlikely. Studies show that AEDs interpret the victim's heart rhythm more quickly and accurately than many trained emergency professionals. If the AED determines that no shock is needed, it will not allow a shock to be given.

QUESTION: Can I be sued if I help someone suffering from SCA?
ANSWER: State and federal "Good Samaritan" laws cover users who, in good faith, attempt to save a person from death. To date, there are no known judgments against anyone who used an AED to save someone's life.

QUESTION: Has anyone been revived by using the AED?
ANSWER: Even though the AED has only been on the market since 2003, it has already saved dozens of people's lives.

QUESTION: Can anyone buy an AED?
ANSWER: Anyone can buy an AED. The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) rules do require a physician's prescription (AEDs are manufactured and sold under guidelines approved by the Food and Drug Administration) before the unit can be delivered.

QUESTION: What features should I look for in an AED?
ANSWER: Look for:
1. An AED that is easy for non-medical people to use
2. An AED that is technically reliable
3. One that is reasonably priced