Survival depends on where you live
As I gathered information this week for a story that will run next Tuesday, a source sent me a link to this USA Today series. It's about the state of emergency medical services in selected U.S. cities.
Essentially, USA Today found that your chances of surviving a heart attack vary depending on where you live. Seattle is among the cities praised for their EMS response systems.
Meanwhile in Spokane, our EMS folks are trying to get more automated external defibrillators in public places. They want them to be as common as fire extinguishers. The devices can shock the heart back into rhythm during the crucial six-minute window of opportunity.
Spokane International Airport will install 10 AEDs by the end of the month. And in the past six months, the number of AEDs in public buildings and businesses in Spokane County has increased from 30 to 44. Locations include Albi Stadium, Valley Mall, Northtown Mall, Riverpark Square, Spokane City Hall and Manito Golf Course.
