Imagine going about routine errands when suddenly someone nearby falls to the ground unconscious, no longer breathing. What then?
Imagine being at a backyard swim party. Suddenly a toddler is pulled from the water. The child is not breathing, their heart is not beating. What then?
Yes, the first response is to dial 911. But what should people do until the ambulance arrives?
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) can mean the difference between the scenarios above ending in a fatal tragedy, or simply becoming a frightening incident. CPR training is available from many sources. It may be offered as an enrichment class through the office, by a local company or given as part of swim lessons or other sports activities. Classes are also offered through online sources. Wherever the training is offered, the time commitment can be as little as a single three- to four-hour session.
Why should people go to the minimal effort required to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation? Here are five reasons to consider.
Be someone's Hero
200,000 Americans die each year from sudden cardiac arrest. Of those, 50,000 people could be saved if CPR is administered. If CPR is started within four minutes of the heart stopping, the victim's chance of survival doubles.
Be Proactive
First-responder lessons include learning the signs of heart attack and stroke. Recognizing these life-threatening conditions early means that the victim can receive treatment more quickly, preventing permanent damage and the need for CPR at all.
Don't Choke
Knowing what to do prevents panic. First-responder instruction includes other lifesaving techniques, such as the Heimlich maneuver for choking victims. 25,000 people in the U.S. choke to death annually. Individuals trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation can save others, or themselves, from becoming a choking fatality.
Stay Safe
Make home and the workplace into safer environments. Statistics show that 80 percent of cardiac arrests happen when there is only one other person present to give aid. If everyone knew cardiopulmonary resuscitation, no one would be without a trained person to aid them in a cardiac emergency.
Use Life-Saving Equipment
Most public places such as shopping malls and gyms now have an automated external defibrillator (AED) available. This machine detects fatal cardiac arrhythmias and administers a shock to reset the heartbeat. CPR training includes proper use of an AED. Administered within one minute after ventricular fibrillation begins, the chance of restoring a heartbeat is above 70 percent.
There are many lists of basic life skills that every adult should master, CPR being one of them. Learning CPR saves lives.
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