News

DDC Employee Uses CPR to Help Save a Life

January 25, 2007 – Perhaps the producers of the hit television series, Heroes, should consider adding our very own Dan Clamp to their talented cast. Dan, an Instrument Technician here in the DDC, was at his Folly Beach home early last month when he received a call from a neighbor asking him to come take a look at a male friend whom had been assisting her with a move.

Dan Clamp, DDC Instrument Technician

The person was middle-aged and had been moving furniture all day. When Dan arrived, the individual was clammy and diaphoretic with tachycardia. He was awake, sitting down and able to answer questions. He told Dan that his left arm had been hurting for a while. Dan informed him that he needed to get to an Emergency room, yet the gentleman steadfastly refused.

Shortly after laying down on the floor, the man convulsed and stopped talking, breathing and lost pulse. Dan sent his neighbor outside where she and another neighbor called 911. Dan followed his basic life support (BLS) training and checked for ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation). Noting none, Dan began one-rescuer CPR for about 5-6 minutes, with no return of pulse.

The police were the first to respond, and they came in with an AED (automatic external defibrillator). Having never actually used an AED (outside of their training), the police were assisted by Dan until more help arrived. Shortly thereafter, the gentleman's pulse returned, although he remained unresponsive. The man was transported to MUSC and placed in the Cardiac Care Unit.

Initially, there was little hope of recovery for the individual. But, there is good news to report. After more than a week in CCU and another week here at the hospital, the gentleman has been discharged and is expected to make a full recovery. He is back at home and will soon be going back to work. The doctors who saw him attributed his recovery to early CPR and defibrilation.

Because of his timely actions, Dan received the Good Citizen Award presented by the Folly Beach Town Council. Dan had never been asked to perform CPR before, but his training kicked in and the individual is living proof of its benefit.