Amigos de La Cruz Helps Shorten the 'Wish List' for Nayarit Fire Department Amy Welch - Amigos de La Cruz
July 19, 2016

Pictured with members of the fire department are from left to right: Amy Welch, Shari Decter Hirst, Joanna Varvos, David Hibbard, Steve Cross and Harold Sokolove with the AED; Sue Fornoff to the far right.
 
Proteccion Civil Nayarit has two fire and ambulance stations in our municipality, Bahia de Banderas. One is in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle and the other in Nuevo Vallarta. The La Cruz fire station is located on the “old” Punta Mita Hwy, across from the Alamar Condominiums.
 
Thanks to Amigos de La Cruz, the paramedics of Proteccion Civil Nayarit, La Cruz station, now have a new rescue tool to help save the lives of residents, workers and tourists, an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator).
 
The Amigos de La Cruz board was first approached this past April by Bucerias resident and Protecction Civil volunteer Harold Sokolove and local Proteccion Civil Fire Chief Sergio Carrillo, seeking financial support to maintain the equipment and to purchase needed supplies, stating that because of the costs of providing more fire and rescue stations in additional parts of the state, the Nayarit Proteccion Civil budget has been stretched very thin.

After the list of needs were made known, the Amigos board voted to fund an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED), to be carried in the La Cruz-stationed ambulance.

What is an AED (defibrillator)?

A defibrillator sends an electric shock to the heart. An AED can be used by bystanders and paramedics to save the lives of people who are having Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). These portable devices are typically found in public places, such as shopping malls, golf courses, businesses, airports, airplanes, casinos, convention centers, hotels, sports venues, and schools, as well as public events, though not as common in Mexico as yet.
 
SCA is a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. If this happens, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. SCA usually causes death if it's not treated within minutes. Administering CPR can extend this time period until an AED arrives.
 
The heart has an electrical system that controls the rate and rhythm of the heartbeat. Problems with the heart's electrical system can cause irregular heartbeats called arrhythmias.
 
There are many types of arrhythmias. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or with an irregular rhythm. Some arrhythmias can cause the heart to stop pumping blood to the body—these arrhythmias cause SCA.
 
SCA is not the same as a heart attack. A heart attack occurs if blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked. During a heart attack, the heart usually doesn't suddenly stop beating. SCA, however, may happen after or during recovery from a heart attack.
 
People who have heart disease are at higher risk for SCA. However, SCA can happen in people who appear healthy and have no known heart disease or other risk factors for SCA.
 
A second AED was purchased by two families for the second Proteccion Civil Ambulance in Nuevo Vallarta. Both AED’s arrived here in early July and have already been placed in the Proteccion Civil ambulances.

Should you be able to help - the Fire Department is asking for the following items, either new or used, or through a donation:

• Splints
• Portable Oxygen Machine
• Thermometers
• Rescue Annie - to practice/teach CPR
• Backboards, long and short
• Finger Pulse Oximeter
• Digital Blood Glucose Meter
• Air Splints
• Lifepak 12
• Bag Valve Masks
• Trachael Tubes
• Resuscitation Equipment
• EpiPens

Any help is appreciated.

If you'd like US Tax Credit, please donate through Banderas Bay Charities, Inc.

If you'd like Canadian Tax Credit, please donate through Canadian Children's Shelter of Hope Foundation.

If you'd like Mexican Tax Credit, please donate to Amigos de La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, A.C.  We do have donatario status.

Fire Department emergency telephone numbers:

(311) 111-0208 - Beto, shift Chief cellphone (speaks English)
 
(322) 188-5923 – Sergio, area Chief cellphone (speaks English)
 
(329) 295-5896 - base La Cruz landline, from cellphone

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