AEDs and Dogs

What could AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) and Dogs possible have in common?  Well, I believe they could both potentially save a life.  We all know that AED’s are capable of saving lives.  If you don’t know this, please scroll down and read any number of the previous blog post.   But what about dogs?  Many studies have shown that dogs (or pets) in the work place greatly reduce stress levels. We all know what stress can lead to!    Is it a coincident that Zoll Medical, a leading manufacturer of AED’s and Defibrillators, use’s a St Bernard as their mascot?  We have visited trade shows, were Zoll would have a real St Bernard in their booth!

Here at Dixie Medical, we normally have at least 4 dogs running about the office. Most visitors comment that there ‘are dogs everywhere’! In a office survey, 90% of Dixie Medical employees said they ‘loved Dogs’, while the other 10% ‘didn’t mind them’. Every employee believed that having dogs in the office help to relieve stress. Several people find it a nice break in the daily routine.

The above paragraphs were my ‘rough draft’ for this blog.   About 10 minutes after saving this, chaos ensued!

The newest furry friend to the Dixie pack of Dogs, had come to work with our Biomed.   “Flipflop” is a Beagle, and she is also a known “runner”!    Everyone in the office was made aware of this, and took extra precautions to keep all door’s shut when she was around.   Well, on this day, she was roaming about the warehouse.   She had hidden under a table by the side warehouse door.  When the side door was opened to bring in a box, and Flipflop made a break.  It was a well thought out escape!    As soon as I heard the door close, I jumped from my desk where I was typing a blog about how great it was to have dogs at work.   I knew she had gotten loose.   We all gave chase.

Our office is located on a semi busy street, and there was a lot of morning traffic.   As Flipflop rounded the neighbors building, me and 2 others were right on here haunches.   We chased her across the busy street and into a residential neighborhood.   I was slightly relieved that we made it across the road, but in the back of my mind I remembered hearing stories about having to chase Flipflop for hours before catching her.   She was wearing a harness, so I thought if I got closed enough, I would be about to dive and grab hold.   We were sprinting down a fence line and I saw that a it came to a corner up ahead.  YES!  I was about to have her cornered I thought…    Well, Flipflop must have thought this exact same thing.   She came to a screeching halt, and did a complete 180.  She was heading back to the office, and the busy street.

I was running as fast as possible.  I remember seeing some of the other guys crossing the road coming towards us to try and block her.   I was right on her heels as we ran down a concrete driveway.   We were both in a full sprint down the neighborhood concrete driveway, with several cars and school busses passing on the busy street ahead.  I had made the decision to lunge after her once we got to the front yard.   Before I could get to the grass, my body out ran my feet, and I took a dive.   Some people would say I ‘tripped’…but Robert was heading up the drive towards us and witnessed it all.    As I rolled around in agony on the ground, I shouted at Robert to go after the dog.   I could see him and Blake chasing her across Main st, with Blake nearly getting hit by a car.

I knew my arm was hurt.   As I limped back over to the office, I saw Flipflop back on her leash wagging her tail!   I came in and sat at my desk.   I couldn’t raise my arm to type, and the crew strongly advised I go seek medical attention.   I ended up fracturing my Humerus bone right above my left elbow, and also fractured part of the ‘ball’ in my elbow socket.   About a week later I had got it screwed back together..    It’s now been just over 4 weeks, and I’m back to typing with 2 hands.  I decided I needed to come back and finish up this blog!

All in all, I’d do it again for any of the Dixie Dogs.  And I know anyone of the people that were involved in that ‘great chase’ would too.  They are truly a part of our culture here at Dixie Medical, and I wouldn’t want it any other way!