Posted at 12:52 p.m., Thursday, July 26, 2007
Hawaii workers praised for use of airport defibrillators
Advertiser Staff
Several state airport employees were recognized today for using heart defibrillators and their CPR training to save the lives of two people in separate events.In the first case, a 48-year-old baseyard worker was revived July 17 after experiencing what appeared to be a sudden cardiac arrest. Co-workers performed CPR on the man while state airport firefighting and rescue crew members used an automated external defibrillator (AED) to resuscitate him.
In the second case, a tourist at Kapalua Airport on Maui was revived this past Tuesday after three airport workers used CPR and an AED on the stricken visitor.
Minutes later, the tourist was awake and talking while waiting for county paramedics to arrive, airports officials said.
"We'd like to thank and praise out airport staff for coming to the rescue of their fellow co-worker and a Hawai'i visitor in the past week," Barry Fukunaga, state transportation director, said. "All of those involved in putting together the defibrillator program should also be proud that lives were saved because of their efforts," Fukunaga said.
The state Department of Transportation Airport Division installed 100 defibrillators in January at airports throughout the state. As part of the program, more than 1,200 airport employees have taken part in an American Heart Association "Heartsaver" course offered at the various airports.
