Each week the life of at least one loyal fan at the University of Nebraska football game is saved by a new cardiac resuscitation unit jointly operated by the University's Student Health Center, Bryan Memorial Hospital (Lincoln, Neb), and Lancaster County physicians.
Unit's Need
"Of the 65,000 spectators crowding the stadium, at least one and sometimes two persons are stricken with heart attacks during each home game," says Kenneth D. Rose, MD, chief, Division of Medical Research, University of Nebraska Health Services.In an effort to save these patients, a cardiac resuscitation unit has been set up in the first aid station of the football stadium. The room is equipped with an electrocardiograph, defibrillator, and oscilloscope.Cardio-pulmonary and inhalation therapy technicians, volunteers from Bryan Memorial Hospital, move the equipment from the hospital for each home football game. Physicians, volunteers, and speciallytrained nurses complete the team.The second time the unit