CNN Boy dies on Rockn Roller Coaster

[Minniespal]

Very sad.

 

[Daxx]

This is so v. sad.

Disney is a co. w/enough money to have proper equipment in place at all times ... and to have employees trained and updated in proper use of the equipment. While nobody wants to have to use it, it's good to know how to use it.

My heart goes out to this family. So v. sad for them. They're in our prayers.

 

[Chicago526]

You know, it could be that the person calling 911 just answered incorrectly when asked about and AED. They could have said "no" but one really was in use (was the caller right at the scene, or calling from a distance away?), or being panicked, didn't understand the question.

 

[Daxx]

You know, it could be that the person calling 911 just answered incorrectly when asked about and AED. They could have said "no" but one really was in use (was the caller right at the scene, or calling from a distance away?), or being panicked, didn't understand the question.

You have a good point there. Many people do not know what an AED is but know what a defibrillator is and vice versa. So, perhaps the CM making the call knew it as one and not the other? Or, maybe there wasn't one in his/her immediate area and didn't realize there might have been one closer? So many circumstances, right?!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My speculation:

I think she was in the photo purchase area or the gift shop. She wasn't panicked. She had no idea what was going on. Someone just said that 911 needed to be called so she dialed. She took it seriously--but she is very calm given the severity of the emergency. Probably b/c she couldn't actually see it. Also--it just sounded like she was in a shop.

She probably had access to a radio and was able to radio the CM at the area where the boy was.

As far as the AED--she may not have been trained to know what it is. I was trained on one--so I can spot those boxes a mile away.

We have no idea where the boy ended up. It did sound like they removed him from the ride--and I want to say that I do recall the tell-tale box at some ride exits--but don't recall explicitly this one.

She did radio to see if they were using an AED--but the relay could have been garbled.

In any case--I'm overdue for my CPR training---but I did the training with AED..and I could have sworn that I was told that the AED is rather intelligent. Even if you have one--if it doesn't detect a heart problem that it is capable of helping, it will not operate. Also--each set does have instructions on it and it will not work if the instructions aren't followed. This is what we were told in training (though my articulation may be off as it has been 2 years).

So another *possibility* is that they tried..but maybe his problem was not able to be attempted to be saved by the AED.

We will know more once he has his autopsy and once more of this is documented and released.

If any medical person who really knows what the AED does cares to correct me--please do..my memory is fuzzy and I just basically remember them saying that just b/c a person is passed out--doesn't mean that the AED can be used to help them .

 

[poohandwendy]

A question for those with medical knowledge:

It was my understanding that the AEds will only work when the heart is in V-Fib or V-tach. Does that mean it will not work if the heart just stops beating completely, like if it sees no heart rhythm at all?

(not speculating on this situation, just curious about the AEDs)

In any case--I'm overdue for my CPR training---but I did the training with AED..and I could have sworn that I was told that the AED is rather intelligent. Even if you have one--if it doesn't detect a heart problem that it is capable of helping, it will not operate. Also--each set does have instructions on it and it will not work if the instructions aren't followed. This is what we were told in training (though my articulation may be off as it has been 2 years).

That makes sense because it could be life threatening if people used it incorrectly...or accidentally on someone who was not having heart rhythm problems.

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

Heres a link to a story about it
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/orl-bk-disney06292006,0,5996099.story

That is just terrible. My prayers go out to his family and friends.

 

[lsyorke]

A question for those with medical knowledge:

It was my understanding that the AEds will only work when the heart is in V-Fib or V-tach. Does that mean it will not work if the heart just stops beating completely, like if it sees no heart rhythm at all?

(not speculating on this situation, just curious about the AEDs) That makes sense because it could be life threatening if people used it incorrectly...or accidentally on someone who was not having heart rhythm problems.

An AED can correct only a shockable rhythm. No shockable rhythm, nothing to correct. There must be electrical activity or the AED will not even fire.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

This is what I found at the American red cross:

How does an AED work?
An AED is easy to operate. It uses voice prompts to instruct the rescuer. Once the machine is turned on, the rescuer will be prompted to apply two electrodes provided with the AED to the victim's chest. Once applied, the AED will begin to monitor the victim's heart rhythm. If a "shockable" rhythm is detected, the machine will charge itself and instruct the rescuer to stand clear of the victim and to press the shock button.

 

[bigmerle1966]

I was just coming to post this.

How defibrillators work
AEDs are user-friendly, automated devices that typically use voice-prompted commands to direct the operator through the complete operating sequence. To begin, the operator peels adhesive stickers from the backs of two electrodes, and places the electrodes on the bare skin of a victim's chest- one electrode goes over the heart and the other one is attached slightly to the left. The defibrillator will then do an analysis of the victim's heart rhythm, and delivers a shock if it diagnoses a cardiac arrest and determines that a shock may help restart the heart. Although the electric shocks are much smaller than those delivered by hospital defibrillators, it is still recommended that no one is in contact with the victim during the shock.

Pediatric use- if you have a potential need to use a defibrillator on younger patients, make sure to find out if the defibrillator you're considering is safe for smaller persons.

So it can be used on children but must be the right kind.

 

[escape]

From CNN news alert:

Preliminary autopsy results found no injuries, but indicated congenital heart abnormalities in a 12-year-old boy who died after a Disney ride in Florida, according to a statement from the medical examiner's office.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

So sad--but kind of the expected finding.

 

[dturner]

From CNN news alert:

Preliminary autopsy results found no injuries, but indicated congenital heart abnormalities in a 12-year-old boy who died after a Disney ride in Florida, according to a statement from the medical examiner's office.

It is sad but I figured that they would find an undisclosed medical problem too.

 

[Sirius]

From CNN news alert:

Preliminary autopsy results found no injuries, but indicated congenital heart abnormalities in a 12-year-old boy who died after a Disney ride in Florida, according to a statement from the medical examiner's office.

Now, one must ask why the media isn't heralding the news at the top of their lungs....

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Now, one must ask while the media isn't heralding the news at the top of their lungs....

Not as newsworthy if it was a health issue that caused it I guess .

Personally I think the media is waiting to pounce on the moment it is Disney's fault. Waiting to "catch 'em" if you will.

On the family board someone posted a yahoo article pointing out this kid is the 9th death since 2003--creating the impression of something must be wrong with Disney. I haven't looked them all up--but inclusive of this boy--nearly half would be something medically wrong with the individual. The other half I don't remember much, I would have to look them up.

Same deal yesterday--they posted the discrepancy of age--b/c then a younger kid would make it more dramatic--more worse. All it was was the sheriff's seemingly mixing up the ages...though oddly the local Orlando news never posted that.

 

[Laura]

Ugh. It's so sad that something fun should bring out a deadly abnormality in a person. But I figured it would be something like that. Hopefully their other son doesn't have this presumed abnormality--I hope they can all get checked out.

 

[MosMom]

You often hear of these hidden abnormalities when the kids move onto sports and then die on the football field or basketball court. It is too bad there is no way to find these before it is too late.

 

[HayGan]

So sad. What a horrible way for it to be discovered. MosMom was right that it does happen all the time with kids in athletics. Some abnormalities just aren't easily detected and sadly are discovered only after it is too late

I was so mad when our local tv station said last night that a boy was killed on the ride. It would have been more accurate to say that he had died until all the facts were known. I just hate how they have to sensationalize everything

 

[Free4Life11]

What a horrible way to find out about something like that.

 

[eclectics]

It is sad but I figured that they would find an undisclosed medical problem too.

I also figured it had to be something along those lines. Very sad. The family must be devastated.