CPR Training

Did you know that sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is the number one cause of death in the United States?  About 300,000 out-of-hospital SCA’s occur annually and 80% of those occur at home!  As only about 8% of those experiencing out-of-hospital SCA’s survive, it seems vital that to increase those odds, we need to increase the number of people trained in CPR.  About 70% of Americans have never been trained in CPR or their training has significantly lapsed.  That’s important today, because in late 2010, CPR standards changed and it’s easier than ever to help a victim of witnessed SCA.

CPR training now emphasizes “Compressions First”, and for adult victims of witnessed SCA, Compression-Only (or “Hands-only”) CPR is something that even untrained bystanders can begin immediately and make a significant difference.  It’s easy!

• When someone collapses suddenly, is not responsive and is not breathing (or not breathing normally), make sure 9-1-1 has been called, and have someone get a portable defibrillator (AED) if it is available.  If no one else is around, do this yourself.
• Kneel directly over your victim and place the heel of one hand in the center of the chest.  Now put the other hand on top and interlace your fingers.  Push hard and fast until help arrives.*

*Hard is at least 2 inches into the chest

*Fast is at least 100 beats per minute (the song “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees is about 103.)

Please watch this one minute video tutorial. It’s the best minute you can ever spend to save someone you care about.

Finally, please consider signing up for Evergreen Safety Council’s next Open Enrollment First Aid / CPR & AED class on June 29, 2012.

Contributed by Kat Spitz, First Aid Trainer, Evergreen Safety Council