Save a Life with CPR
Sudden cardiac arrest…
Cardiac arrest can happen anytime, anywhere. It can be caused by a heart attack, trauma, an overdose or drowning, among other factors. In sudden cardiac arrest the heart stops beating; blood stops circulating; oxygen stops flowing to the brain; and the victim stops breathing. It all happens in a matter of seconds.
Five minutes is the difference between life and death. If no CPR is provided or no defibrillation occurs within 3 to 5 minutes, the chances of survival drop.
Why train students?
Today, far too many people die suddenly from cardiac arrest and might have been saved if only those around them knew CPR. The demand for CPR is high; but the supply of people with basic CPR skills is low and inconsistent.
The good news is that with hands-only CPR, it is much easier to teach this lifesaving skill. In less than the time it takes to watch a 30 minute TV sitcom, we can give students the skills they need to help save someone’s life with CPR.
Effective CPR circulates a small but vital amount of oxygen-rich blood to the heart and brain, which can help keep a victim alive until an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is available. Currently, only about 30 percent of victims of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest receive any type of CPR.
Training of all secondary education students in the nation will add a million trained rescuers to the population every few years. Those students will be ready, willing and able to act, whenever they witness an emergency within the community.
And since approximately 80% of sudden cardiac arrests occur at home, the life saved will likely be a loved one or friend.
CPR training in schools should cover key areas, including how to recognize an emergency, an emphasis on high-quality chest compressions and skills practice. And at a minimum, AED training should cover the purpose, simplicity and safety of the devices.