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My friend Mary stopped by my home recently on her way to the fire station in our neighborhood. She and her husband live nearby in a gated community called Holcomb Estates.
The small streets in that area curve into cul-de-sacs and around picturesque ponds and ravines. Because Mary's husband has survived a heart attack, she wanted to be sure that, should he have another, the 911 call could be answered quickly by rescue personnel at the local fire station. She was bringing them a map to her residence.
I've always admired Mary for her wisdom. In all things practical, she is innovative and creative.
As part of the Neighborhood Heart Watch initiative, we invite all persons who feel they might be at risk for cardiac arrest to find out whether their local fire station or emergency responder unit has a detailed map showing their current home address, should the unexpected happen.
In cases of cardiac arrest, a defibrillator to restart a heart should be used in five minutes or less. Treatment for a heart attack or stroke is also time-sensitive. Each minute lost, from the onset of symptoms to the time of emergency assistance, slowly closes the window of opportunity for successful intervention and recovery.
The bottom line: make sure the fire department or 911 responder has your name, address, phone number, and an accurate map of how to find your residence in an emergency.
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