Sudden Cardiac Arrest on Health Fitness Centers, who’s to blame?
We all wanted to be fit and healthy that is why going to health fitness centers is a must for each and every one of us. This establishment is actually built to help us relax, de-stress and most of all, to be fit and healthy. But what if the establishment itself lacks Emergency Medical Devices such as AEDs? How can one establishment help save our life? What if they already have it at hand but no one else is trained to use it? Read these two real life stories about Sudden Cardiac Arrest that happens on two different Health Fitness Centers and be the judge who’s to blame.
A very well known Health and Fitness Club LA Fitness was ordered to pay $619,650 due to gross negligence following a Sudden Cardiac Arrest incident that happens to one of its customers Alessio Tringali. Alessio Tringali a 49-year-old man went into the LA Fitness Club located at Oakland Park Gym to work out when suddenly the unexpected happen. Tringali suffers from Sudden Cardiac Arrest while working out on the gym but then fighting for his own life was indeed solitarily. No Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation was performed to him and there is no Emergency Medical Device such as Automated External Defibrillators present on site. Battling for his life, the old man died helpless on the gym and the family sued the establishment for gross negligence. After taking much investigation and hearing sessions, the Broward Circuit Court Jury ordered the famous LA Health and Fitness Center to pay the amount of $619,650 to the family for the damages made.***1
AED products including antiseptic wipes and now it is used as a personal care products. If you think that life can be taken away that easy, read this another Sudden Cardiac Arrest story that happens on Hillsborough Fitness Club that nearly shocked the world of fitness establishments.
Thomas Durkin, a 44-year-old man went into the Hillsborough Fitness club to play racquetball when suddenly the man turned blue gasping up for air. Someone called over 911 while the Fitness staff members rushed on the AED unit to save his life. Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation was performed by the staff member but then the available AED unit was not even touched. Instead of using the machine for immediate resuscitation, they failed to use it on Mr. Durkin making him few inches away from reviving. The staff member waited 7 minutes long for the Hillsborough police to arrive letting Mr. Durkin fall into irreversible death. Pronounced dead due to Sudden Cardiac Arrest secondary to Arrhythmia, the family decided to file a suitcase to Hillsborough Fitness Club for failing to use to AED unit available on the area.***2
The case of Mr. Thomas Durkin is very depressing for that fact that the AED unit is already available at hand but then no trained personnel is present on the site to use the machine. If only the machine is used, Mr. Durkin could still be saved from dying into Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
The heart has a built-in electrical system. In a healthy heart, a “pace-maker” triggers the heartbeat, and then electrical impulses run along pathways in the heart, causing it to contract in a regular, rhythmic way. Health and Fitness Center is where we usually spent precious time and money just to make us fit and healthy. But what if they don’t have AEDs or trained personnel present at site? Would you risk your life on their establishment? The above story only proves that two things should always be present on each and every vulnerable establishment such as Health and Fitness Clubs, AED units and trained personnel.
Processing your request, Please wait....
