Chatham Recreation in conjunction with the John Taylor Babbitt Foundation (JTB) placed defibrillators at our local fields. John Babbitt, a Chatham resident, passed away at age 16 from a genetic heart abnormality while playing basketball at St Patrick Church. In discussing this proposal, training in the use of the defibrillator along with CPR is critical.
We strongly urge all adult recreation coaches/assistants/volunteers to register for a CPR/Defib courses. Please contact cnauta@chathamrecreation.org for information.

The links in the chain of survival are:

• Early recognition of the emergency and activation of the emergency medical services phone 9-1-1.
• Early bystander CPR.
• Early delivery of a shock with a defibrillator
• Early advanced life support followed by post resuscitation care delivered by healthcare providers.

For each minute of delay in starting CPR, the chance of neurologically intact survival decreased 11 percent, researchers said. For each minute of delay in shock for ventricular fibrillation, researchers found a 16 percent decrease in survival.