More Segway Users Trained as First Responders?

[opti6600]

We just had some guy have a heart attack on his way up the Rickenbacker as a cyclist the other day, just an hour or so after my normal commute. I even saw the police tape on my way back from school yesterday. Quite a sobering sight.

That brings me to my point here. What does everybody think about carrying advanced First Aid kits or an AED with them in their Segway bag or backpack? After the Friday cyclist incident, I'm considering getting a frontbag of some sort, and sticking an AED in the bottom (just put an AED sticker on the back of the bag). I've realized that there are some situations here where it may very well save a life. We're always out in the community - heart attacks, broken arms/legs (other than the ones from missed deadlines), and various minor injuries occur most often in pedestrian environments. Plus we have the whole scenario with car accidents - we're usually isolated, but well aware.

So who thinks Segway users should consider being designated first responders?

[segwayowner]

i would be very willing to do that. i am taking a first aid CPT and AED course this summer. My next step is to become a paramedic and i would carry an AED anyway.

DES: Segway owner

[mzokc]

I did a Google search for the definition.

ADE (Adverse Drug Experience) report or Adverse Drug Event.

Mark

[Sunday]

An AED is one of those automatic defibrillators you see on airplanes. You can get them for about $2-3K. I wonder if MedExpress in Louisiana would be willing to sell them at a discounted price for HT owners?


Sunday

[opti6600]

Mark, you just had a dyslexic moment - it's alright, we all have em!

I apologize for not expanding AED - Automatic External Defibrillator, or as Sunday put it - Automatic Rescue Defibrillator. I'm out to lunch for a bit, but when I'm back, I'll hit SegwayChat Live so we can discuss this. It'd be a huge positive PR thing to see more Segway users sign up as Red Cross certified first responders of some sort (CPR & AED use mostly, as well as First Aid/Wilderness First Aid).

Best regards,
Jordan

Update: Here's a link to a great unit (http://www.aedsuperstore.com/access-aed.html) - I didn't know they came in this small a form factor!

[Sunday]

Rats! I was hoping to fix that before anyone noticed. But it would definitely be very good PR for a Segway owner to save another person's life. Or render any assistance at all. I think it would be very cool if an HT owner was there to help a pedestrian advocate that just got hit by a cyclist:-


Mark Sunday

[Cube128]

I think that's going a bit far in the name of good publicity. Sure, we all want the Segway to be accepted, but is it worth carrying around a couple grand worth of equitment on the off-chance that you may help somone and make the news? I just don't think that it would be reasonable. Just my 2 cents...

[opti6600]

Cube, I definitely don't mean this to be PR stunt. This is a real effort made to the community, and something we can do both to be an amazing help to the people that share our cities with. Sure, the PR value is absolutely incredible - but understand that PR was merely a side-effect of this. Seggers are out there and always seeing things that most cars don't, and can help in situations where cars just can't, or don't care. I've seen people post Amber Alerts here too, for the exact same reason. We can see and hear, as well as respond, more effectively than any other class of traveler - we're connected, mobile, and can go just about anywhere.

Let's put our advantages to use for the community!

[BruceWright]

I think if you were going to get an AED anyway, like if you were training in it, then it might be a great thing. Lots of people carry these in their cars, I imagine.

I would like the price to come down a bit.

But great idea about carrying a first-aid kid too. That's something worthwhile. I might just do that.



-Bruce Wright

Segway: Vehicle of Dream

[Ninja]

Wow that really is small. A great price compared to most units too.
I think the idea is a great one. It is not a matter of going out and playing paramedic. It is being prepared if you are trained and qualified for such procedures and contributing to the community.

quote:Originally posted by opti6600

Mark, you just had a dyslexic moment - it's alright, we all have em!

I apologize for not expanding AED - Automatic External Defibrillator, or as Sunday put it - Automatic Rescue Defibrillator. I'm out to lunch for a bit, but when I'm back, I'll hit SegwayChat Live so we can discuss this. It'd be a huge positive PR thing to see more Segway users sign up as Red Cross certified first responders of some sort (CPR & AED use mostly, as well as First Aid/Wilderness First Aid).

Best regards,
Jordan

Update: Here's a link to a great unit (http://www.aedsuperstore.com/access-aed.html) - I didn't know they came in this small a form factor!


Aloha,
Randy >:o)
http://alohasegway.com
"Increase the Peace"

[Deviant]

lipinsky or others out there, what are your thoughts and suggestions about AEDs, by the public and particular models?

[mzokc]

LOL, ADE, AED.

No one has had a heart attack yet after hearing the Segway price.

I do carry the cell phone, good for getting help if a problem did occur.

Mark

[opti6600]

True...but then again, almost every Joe and his brother has a cell nowadays. A first responder's job is to maintain critical functions of the victim while EMS gets to the scene. That's where I think seggers can make a difference. Go check out that AED, stick it in your bag, get a small First Aid kid too.

Anybody know where we can get little AED and First Aid weather-resistant stickers? Just ones that are 1" square and can be applied to the side or back of our frontbags for when we prop our HT against a wall, it's still known that there's an AED or First Aid kit in there. Because it's not only people on my commute, it's people wherever I am that concern me. Sure, my school has one *somewhere*, but I don't know where it is, and most of the staff doesn't, either. I don't know an office that has an AED in it yet, or at least one that the employees know about. Heck, what if my local barista keels over while making my morning frap? It's those little things that can happen, and you know where to get help and how to administer it.

Perhaps we can get in touch with MedExpress and they can rig up a kit for us. Otherwise, whoever gets their stuff first, show us a proof-of-concept. We need a kit that's waterproof, and contains a compact AED (I liked the Access model - cheap and tiny), and a First Aid kit (a good one, not the little ones you see for kids with a real thing for electrical sockets).

Does MedExpress have a rep on this board?

[lipinsky]

I have an AED in my car. It is "too big" for the segway. It is a bit smaller than the grey front segway bag. It just takes up too much room for the probability of use. Not worth it. I do carry a first aid kit (of sorts) in my segway though. I have thought about responding to incidents on my segway, but the time savings in my car is worth using it. I also can not carry enough gear on my Segway. I do use my Segway for per diem EMT work when I am on duty covering a small area that would normally be covered on foot.

Putting the sticker on the segway touting an AED would be a bad idea. One more thing to steal. I don't even have one on my car (though some people do). ALso, AEDs are about the cost of a Segway. We have AEDs in the offices where I work.