Todd Byers Column - April 2002 (Let's All Do What We Can to be Safe Out There)

Emmett Rahl, Bob Beachler and I participate in the monthly Boeing Seal Beach 5K Series. During the race on Monday, March 11th, 2002, 51 year-old Boeing employee Ken Roselius suffered a heart attack just short of the finish line. A few of us performed Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and another used a portable defibrillator until the ambulance arrived. Despite everyone�s best efforts, Ken died. I was the person who felt Ken�s last breath, which was a traumatic experience for me. Recent events, both local and global, have reminded me that life is indeed short.

All of us active in A Running Experience Club work our bodies to their fullest whether it be running an ultra-marathon or walking around the block. Just because life is short, though, does not mean that each of us cannot take steps to make those breaths that we do have even safer.

Some of us intentionally make choices which obviously put us in peril while exercising -- like wearing headphones while running or not donning reflective materials at night. Other issues are overlooked as not as pressing or important which are the ones that often lead to one�s demise. With a bit of forethought and planning, however, even these factors can be at the least recognized and their affects minimized. Below are listed some of these and what we can all do about them.

1. Get a physical. This is especially important for those people who are just beginning an exercise regime. Doctors say we should have an examination but we take no heed because we believe they will only make money. However, a thorough work-up before overly taxing one�s body can help to discover inherent existing heart and respiratory problems amongst others. If a person is over 40, is or has been obese, or is overcoming habits such as smoking, this issue takes on even more importance.
2. Know your own family history. Many hereditary heart and other conditions are treatable if identified early enough. Exercise programs can then be tailored to take into account any recurring family health issues.
3. Set up an information network. In the case that a downed athlete is not conscious, there must be at least one other person who can be contacted who knows pertinent information such as current health difficulties or allergies.
4. Carry the appropriate device to convey the above information. A Medic Alert (available at the local pharmacy) indicates existing conditions and allergies or a Road ID (available at 800-345-6336 or www.roadID.com) is personalized to include customized contact information.
5. Know your running partners. Oftentimes an athlete has one or more persons with whom he usually runs. Even the minimum of information (age, health issues, contacts) can help medical personnel do their jobs more efficiently. Especially in the absence of a Medic Alert or Road ID, precious seconds can be saved if that information is readily available from someone on the scene.
6. Learn Basic First Aid and CPR. In the cases of exercising in groups which we often do, it is the person beside you who will be there first in order to help a fallen runner. Each person should know the appropriate procedures to perform in order to help out in the best possible way to make the person comfortable and to perhaps even save a life.

These are just a few of the ways the we can make ourselves and each other more safe doing what we like to do. 

With the last point in mind, Ken�s death once again indicates the importance of Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). In the case of a heart attack, without CPR a person has a 1 in 20 chance of survival. With CPR, the chances are 1 in 4. Every one of us in AREC should know CPR to help out that friend next to us or an unnamed athlete whenever the need arises. There are some local venues where training is available: 

CPR Sunday. This one-day event is Sunday, June 2, 2002 at Veterans Park in Long Beach. The four-hour course starts every hour on the hour between 8am and 1pm and costs $3 prepaid or $5 on the day of the event. The intent of this large endeavor is to expose as many people as possible to Basic Adult CPR. Reservations are suggested by May 25th. More information is available at http://www.cprsunday.com/. Red Cross of Long Beach. The Red Cross has one-day Community CPR classes scheduled throughout each month which are held at 3150 E 29th St in Long Beach. Each of these day-long classes takes 6.5 hours (8am �E3pm). Classes are also offered split into two weekday evenings such as on Mondays (6pm �E10pm) and Wednesdays (6pm �E9pm). Costs for any of these classes is $40 including materials. Further schedule information can be obtained from the Red Cross of Long Beach at 562-595-6341 X227. First Aid training is also available through the local Red Cross. 

As I previously offered, if any current AREC member is interested in taking a CPR class and cannot or will not pay for it, I will personally cover the cost whether it be the $3/$5 or the $40 option. No AREC funds will be used. Now that I have personally seen the opportunity to use CPR, I believe in its value and I will see to it that anyone who wants to learn this skill will have the chance to do so. It is as simple (and as important!) as that. 

Let�s all know ourselves, our exercising partners, and the necessary skills to make our chosen activities even more enjoyable!

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This page created on December 6, 2006 by Emmett D. Rahl.