It’s National CPR/AED Awareness Week!

And what better way to raise awareness than to offer free CPR lessons? The American Heart Association (AHA) has released a one minute instruction video that demonstrates Hands Only CPR. In just one minute you can learn a life saving skill.

Watch the video here.

 

According to AHA statistics, 70% of Americans either don’t know CPR, or have outdated training[1]. New 2010 AHA guidelines stress the importance of effective chest compressions, so getting re-certified has never been so important.

 

But in most cases, CPR only buys time until an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED)arrives, which can take several minutes, at best. Calling 911 from a cell phone can extend the time it takes to get a live operator, so call from a land line whenever possible.

 

But even with optimal connection time to a 911 operator, response time (from 911 call to paramedics’ arrival at your location) ranges from nine minutes to closer to 18 minutes, with the average time being in the 10 – 11 minute range[2]. That is a long time to hope that the person performing chest compressions, or even full-blown CPR, won’t get tired and begin to lose effectiveness. Not to mention the fact that the AED can reestablish the heart beat so CPR is no longer needed. But without CPR, without an AED, survival rates drop drastically with every passing minute.

 

According to The American Red Cross, “Defibrillation administered within four minutes after collapse is most successful.[3]” Every minute without defibrillation decreases the chance for survival by ten percent. So while chest compressions are a key component of the chain of survival, and while doing something–anything–is better than doing nothing, rapid administration of an AED may be the most important factor of all.

 

For those of you with iPhones and Androids, download The Pocket First Aid & CPR Smartphone App here  from Heart.org.

 

Here are some more CPR facts the AHA wants you to be aware of [4]:

 

  • Nearly 90 percent of all cases of cardiac arrest happen at home, and many of those occur in patients who have never displayed symptoms or risk factors of heart disease.
  • Heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) are not the same thing. SCA is the sudden cessation of heart beat, which happens when the electrical impulses become rapid or chaotic. Heart attack, which can lead to SCA, is caused by the blockage of blood flow to the heart. In children, SCA is usually respiratory in nature.
  • Since so many cases of SCA happen at home, it is more likely the life you save will be a loved one.
  • African-American SCA rates are twice as high as those of Caucasians, and survival rate is half.
  • Effective CPR doubles or triples survival chances, however a mere 32 percent of those who suffer cardiac arrest will receive CPR.
  • A recent study shows that people are more likely to attempt CPR after watching an instructional video (a little knowledge goes a long way!)
  • Where adult SCA victims are concerned, Hands-Only CPR is just as effective as CPR with breaths.

 

So don’t wait any longer, start by watching the one minute video on Hands-Only CPR, then find the CPR/AED course nearest you!