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The chance of surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is one in 10, but Perth man Joe Jeffries has beaten the odds twice in just seven months.<\/p>\n
The 64-year-old touch rugby referee collapsed during half-time at separate games \u2013 one held at his Southern Stars Touch Football club in Karawara on January 22 this year, and the second at Northern District\u2019s Bennet Park in Doubleview on July 3.<\/p>\n
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Joe Jeffries said he was lucky to be alive. <\/span>Credit: <\/span>Ross Swanborough<\/cite><\/p>\n Thanks to the quick actions of teammates, who grabbed an automated external defibrillator located at the clubs and commenced CPR, Jeffries regained a pulse before the ambulance arrived both times.<\/p>\n He was told by multiple doctors he was lucky to be alive.<\/p>\n \u201cYou just feel so out of control,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was rather concerning that first time, I was out of it for 2\u00bd days, unaware of anything and hooked up to oxygen for 10 days out of the 14 I spent in hospital.<\/p>\n \u201cThen I was discharged, and it was four more weeks before I could walk properly. After that, I did 12 weeks of rehabilitation work.\u201d<\/p>\n Jeffries was then cleared by doctors and said he felt great, but only a few weeks later he collapsed again.<\/p>\n Taken back to the hospital, he said he didn\u2019t remember the first few days, but when he woke up doctors sent him for multiple tests.<\/p>\n \u201cMy heart was pumping flat out. Doctors have told me that, in simple terms, my bain was saying I needed more oxygen, but my heart was saying, \u2018No you don\u2019t\u2019,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Former Australian Army medic and Southern Stars head trainer Paul Hudson saw Jeffries collapse at the first game and began chest compressions right away while sending for a defibrillator.<\/p>\n The app sends your GPS coordinates to the operator when you call triple zero for an ambulance, and also\u00a0 provides access to vital information such as:\u00a0<\/p>\n It also allows qualified first aiders in WA to sign up and become a registered first responder. If a nearby emergency occurs (in a public place within 500 meters), they will be notified and given the opportunity to assist until the ambulance arrives.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you don\u2019t get the heart moving, the blood starts to clot and the heart swells to a third more than its usual size which can interfere in moving the blood to vital organs and hinder a shockable rhythm,\u201d Hudson said.<\/p>\n \u201cEarly intervention with an AED and significant chest compressions within the first minutes of witnessed cardiac arrest will significantly improve the odds of survival.\u201d<\/p>\n Northern Districts vice president Jake Bogue, who did a year study of paramedicine and works in health care, was at both games when Jeffries fell unconscious and stopped breathing.<\/p>\n During the second incident, it took at least five minutes for the first shock from the defibrillator to be delivered because it was further away and there was a slight delay because the automated device wouldn\u2019t send a shock while hands were still on Jeffries\u2019 chest doing compressions.<\/p>\n But despite the delays, Jeffries\u2019 pulse returned.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were very happy with our efforts, there was a huge sigh of relief for everyone with that one,\u201d Bogue said.<\/p>\n Jeffries has just completed his second round of rehabilitation, but has more tests and follow-up appointments to come, to make sure his body is recovering. He is now coaching touch rugby full time and not taking part in the games while he waits.<\/p>\n He said he was thankful for the quick work of those who came to his aid and for the fact both clubs had defibrillators.<\/p>\n St John WA chief preventative officer Megs O\u2019Donnell said for every minute lost during an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, the chance of survival dropped 10 per cent.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are more than 7700 AED\u2019s registered with St John WA which can be deployed by any member of the public,\u201d O\u2019Donnell said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re simple and easy to use, which is important because the first few minutes after cardiac arrest are the most critical.<\/p>\n \u201cThe only way to make things worse with an AED is not to use it.\u201d<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter. <\/i><\/b><\/p>\nThe St John First Responder App<\/h3>\n
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