The Life-Saving Importance of AEDs in the Workplace

aed sign 1

If you work a standard 40+ hour week, you likely spend more of your waking hours at your workplace than you do at home. Your job gives you a way to provide for your family, and you develop close relationships with your co-workers and customers over time. At In-Pulse CPR, we are committed to empowering clients and reducing preventable fatalities. That is one of the reasons why we believe automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, should be present in as many workplaces as possible.

 

What Are AEDs?

Before we explain why an AED would benefit your workplace, it’s important to understand what an AED actually is. An automated external defibrillator is a portable medical device that has the capability to check the heart’s current rhythm and send an electric shock to the heart if necessary. The purpose of the shock is to restore a healthy rhythm to the heart.

Zoll with Cabinet

AEDs are proven to improve survival rates in patients that experience sudden cardiac arrest. Although these important machines are powerful, they are also lightweight, battery-operated, and very simple to use.

 

AED Statistics

The damage caused by a heart attack can onset after as little as three minutes, decreasing the likelihood of survival by as much as 10% for every minute past three. This includes irreversible brain damage and even death. This statistics are sobering, but how likely is it that a person experiencing cardiac arrest would benefit from emergency care from a colleague? Research shows that this is more common than you might think.

 

The average response time for EMS services is about 10-15 minutes, which is long enough to reduce the chance of survival to under 30%. Conversely, studies have shown that a sixth grade student, when properly trained, can operate an AED efficiently in under 90 seconds. These precious minutes can make a world of difference to a person in cardiac arrest and help bridge the treatment gap between incident and professional care.

 

Workplace Safety

If you feel intimidated by the thought of using an AED to shock another person, you are not alone. This is one of the reasons why knowledge is power. AEDs are designed for use by a layperson and require minimal training. These devices usually contain spoken prompts for use, guiding the user step by step through the process. Some models contain an “event memory” which records important information and ECG data that the emergency team can use to understand what treatment the patient has received. These advantages, when coupled with the professional care from an EMS team, can mean the difference between life and death.

 

If there is already an AED present in your workplace, it’s vital that all of your staff members know where it is located and how to use it. All CPR classes taught by In-Pulse CPR professionals include an AED component. Although the devices themselves are not difficult to use, completing training and having the chance to get answers to your questions helps you react with confidence when you have the opportunity to help a colleague or customer at your workplace.

 

Why not schedule a CPR and AED training course at your office today?

Avoiding Injury: Aging Adults

For many of us, getting older means a reduction in physical activity. The less activity we get, the more our muscles atrophy (weaken, deteriorate) and the more deconditioned our cardiovascular system becomes. Not getting any exercise can make it very easy to get injured doing routine tasks like bending over to tie your shoes. Recovering from injury also takes longer as we age.

elderly

Bottom line

:  Being out of shape can result in poor health and injury. Poor health and injury can lead to more doctor visits, more hospitalizations and more medications to treat related illnesses and injuries.

 

Have hope – a silver lining can be found in this dark cloud! There are a number of things you can do to avoid injuries that won’t require a large financial investment like a gym membership, special equipment or a trainer. The internet is chocked full of resources that can help educate yourself on health, fitness, nutrition and preventing injury. Who knows – you may find activities that you really enjoy doing and it won’t even seem like exercise!

For those looking to start exercising, gentle stretching and walking are two free and easy activities that can help condition your body to prevent injury.  You can do both of these activities almost anywhere and at any time! Your doctor may be able to provide you with stretching instructions if you’re unable to access the internet.

 

If you want something a little more intense, look into individual or team sports such as golf, tennis, softball or volleyball.  Or try more rigorous cardiovascular activities like jogging, elliptical training, etc. Strength training is a great way of keeping your muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones conditioned.

 

Exercise may provide the following benefits:

  • Maintain or lose weight
  • Reduce the impact of illness and chronic disease
  • Enhance mobility, flexibility, and balance
  • Reduce blood pressure and stress

 

Being sedentary and getting no exercise is more risky than becoming active. The pros outweigh the cons by a substantial amount. You don’t need to run a marathon or lift heavy weights to get in shape. There are plenty of low impact activities that will provide adequate conditioning and reduce your chances of injury. When starting any new exercise program, always consider consulting your doctor beforehand. Get moving!

Why not a CPR class for your employees?

cpr class for office employees

Have you ever thought about CPR training for you and your employees? While some fields of work require all employees to be certified, any business can benefit from having CPR-certified staff on hand. Studies have shown that time is of the essence when someone has a heart attack. When you call 911, the national average response time for paramedics is 8 to 12 minutes. Unfortunately, within 4 to 6 minutes, brain damage begins, and after 10 minutes, it becomes a certainty. However, with proper application of CPR, brain damage can be prevented. This is because blood is kept circulating to the brain, providing it with oxygenated blood. This means CPR should be started as soon as possible.

How Difficult is a CPR Class?

You might think that learning to save someone’s life like this is complicated and takes years of study. After all, doctors go to school for years before they’re allowed to practice on their own. CPR, however, is the easiest medical training class you’ll ever go through. In fact, most trainings take less than four hours to be certified.

When you’re looking for a CPR class, you want to be sure of some basic things, however. First, make sure that you’re going to be tested on the material that you learn. This ensures that you understand the techniques involved and allows you to make mistakes on a CPR dummy rather than a live person. You also want to be sure that there will be enough CPR dummies on hand for everyone in your class to participate on. Check to be sure that your instructors are certified and look for recommendations and reviews on the organization that will be teaching you.

What CPR Class Do You Need?

There are usually two tiers of CPR classes taught. Basic CPR for Adults, and BLS (Basic Life Support) CPR for Healthcare Workers. Basic CPR classes should cover how to assist someone who is choking and how to perform CPR on someone who has had a heart attack. You will also get training on how to use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator), which can increase a person’s chance of survival greatly when properly used. Additionally, basic classes should also teach you how to perform CPR and choking assistance on children and infants.

BLS courses are much more in-depth and provide a two-year certification for health care professionals. These include all of the instruction that you receive during a basic course, but also provide training on 2-person rescues as well as a comprehensive written exam. While this course is designed for people who work in health care, such as dentists, dental assistants, nurses, and doctors, anyone can take this course for this level of certification.

CPR training is important for everyone to know, whether you’re a health care professional or not. You never know when an emergency will strike and need you to step in to provide CPR or choking assistance. With proper training and certification, you can have the confidence and know-how necessary to help save a life. If you’re located in Florida, Minnesota, or Pennsylvania, we at In-Pulse CPR are ready to help you take that step with AHA-certified instructors and convenient locations.

Request information and pricing on a CPR class today for your staff

Minnesota Community Strives for Heart Safety

By Laura Crider

Sadly, almost everyone knows someone who has experienced a cardiac arrest. The next victim could be your co-worker, your neighbor, or a random stranger you pass on the street. In the state of Minnesota, cardiovascular events are currently the second leading cause of death, making them responsible for nearly 20 percent of in-state deaths. These statistics are sobering, but one small Minnesota city is taking impressive steps to tackle the problem head-on.

 

Heart Safe Communities

mounds-view

Mounds View, Minnesota, is a popular suburb in the Twin Cities metro area. More than 13,000 residents call Mounds View home, and the locale was named as an official Heart Safe Community in September 2016. Community leaders chose to participate in this initiative because it empowers members of the community through training and education.

 

Heart Safe Communities are the brainchild of Allina Health in partnership with the American Heart Association and the Minnesota Department of Health. The main goal of each Heart Safe Community

is preventing deaths due to sudden cardiac arrest. There are several strategies used to accomplish this goal including:

  • Increasing community cardiac arrest awareness
  • Placing automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, in busy public areas
  • Providing CPR education and training to members of the community

 

An Urgent Need

When a person’s heart stops suddenly as a result of cardiac arrest, immediate action is needed. The minutes between when first responders are called and when they arrive are vital. Survival is not likely unless action is taken right away, and death can occur within minutes after the heart stops.

 

Most people want to be able to help in an emergency, but they don’t want to do anything wrong or they are just not quite sure how to proceed. That’s one of the reasons why CPR and AED training is so important. Some people feel wary about mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, so the Heart Safe program focuses on hands-only CPR. Studies conducted by the Journal of the American Medical Association have shown that bystanders are more likely to perform this type of CPR, and chest compressions perform the important task of trying to restore blood flow to the body.

 

Public access to AEDs is another important part of this program. Since it received its Heart Safe designation, Mounds View now has an AED in every school. AEDs are also present in City Hall and other government facilities. The Heart Safe team continues to work to encourage more Mounds View businesses to have AEDs available to the public.

 

As a result of the Mounds View Heart Safe movement, other nearby communities are joining the cause, too. Anoka County and Blaine are just two of the locations that are working toward their Heart Safe Community designation. When communities band together for awareness and training, lives can be saved.

 

Taking the Next Steps

At In-Pulse CPR, we know that knowledge is power. Whether you live in Mounds View, Minnesota, or another part of the state, you have the power to potentially save a life. Check out /Minnesota  to find a convenient class in your area.

 

New AHA CPR Recommendations

By Peter J Klotunowitch

A leading cause of death in the United States, cardiac arrest is caused when the heart suddenly stops, usually due to an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat and disrupts blood flow through the body. Survival depends on immediate CPR and other actions starting with bystanders.

American Heart Association CPR Guidelines: quick action, more teamwork key to saving more lives

According to the American Heart Association’s 2015 Guidelines Update for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC), People should continue to jump in quickly to give CPR, using breaths if they’ve been trained in CPR and employing mobile technology to speed up the rescue of cardiac arrest victims.

“Everyone has a role to play in the chain of survival – from bystanders to dispatchers, emergency responders to healthcare providers,” said Dr. Mark A. Creager, president of the American Heart Association and professor of medicine at Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and director of the Heart and Vascular Center at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. “When everyone knows their role, knows CPR and works together, we can dramatically improve cardiac arrest victims’ chances of survival.”

The AHA guidelines, which are based off the latest resuscitation research, have been published since 1966 to provide science-based recommendations for treating cardiovascular emergencies – particularly cardiac arrest in adults, children, infants and newborns. This 2015 update confirms known CPR recommendations with several quality enhancements to help save even more lives, including a range for the rate and depth of chest compressions during CPR. The last update to the guidelines was in 2010.

Key points from the 2015 Guidelines Update provides bystanders, dispatchers and communities with practical guidance to improve the effectiveness of their teamwork:

Untrained bystanders should still call 911 and provide Hands-Only CPR, or CPR without breaths, pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest to the rate of 100-120 compressions per minute. However, if the bystander is trained in CPR and can perform breaths, he or she should add breaths in a 30:2 compressions-to-breaths ratio.

Bystanders should use mobile phones to immediately call 911 and the phones on speaker, so the dispatcher can help bystanders check the victim’s breath, get the precise location for EMS and provide instructions for performing CPR.

Community Dispatchers should be trained to help bystanders check for breathing and recognize cardiac arrest. Dispatchers should also be aware that brief generalized seizures may be an early sign of cardiac arrest.

Improving Healthcare’s Systems of Care

Inside hospitals, CPR training is foundational to the lifesaving care healthcare systems provide, considering about 200,000 cardiac arrests occur in hospitals annually. Yet, research shows resuscitation skills can decline within a few months – far before the two-year current evaluation standard. Frequent training ensures hospitals are continuously evaluating how to deliver patients the highest quality of emergency cardiovascular care.

 

“The 2015 update calls for integrated systems of care that participate in continuous quality improvement and that provide a common framework for both community and healthcare-based resuscitation systems,” said Clifton Callaway, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the AHA’s Emergency Cardiovascular Care committee and professor of emergency medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. “We must create a culture of action that benefits the entire community in which it operates, inside and outside the hospital setting.”

This year’s update provides recommendations on the data where new evidence requires a systematic review, in part, due to a network of trainers who regularly implement the CPR guidelines and rely on the science to inform the most effective care.

Annoying Mosquitoes and the Best Ways to Block them from Biting You

mosquitoMosquitoes are an annoying, uncomfortable reality when it comes to spending time outdoors. A blood-feeding member of the fly family, their whining buzz and itching bites can make even a family picnic a challenging ordeal. In some cases, however, mosquitoes can be more than just an annoyance. Mosquitoes have been known throughout history to be carriers of diseases, some of which can be deadly and cause for serious preventative action.

The best way to block mosquitos from biting is to create a physical barrier between them and your skin. Many companies make hats that provide roll-down netting that will cover the wearer’s face and not allow insects access. Long sleeves, pants, socks and, in some cases, gloves may also be a necessity if one is venturing into or working in a heavily wooded or swampy area where the insects thrive.

If you partake in camping, sleeping under the stars may be a romantic and humbling experience, but it’s a moonlit buffet to mosquitos and other biting bugs. Consider a sealed tent with a fine mesh covering to still enjoy nature without letting it enjoy you.

For those who wish to venture outside without wearing a knight’s armor, there are many options when it comes to topical sprays and lotions to dissuade mosquitos from attacking. While diethyltoluamide, commonly referred to as DEET, has raised subtle health concerns, when applied as directed it is still the most effective chemical weapon against biting pests. Apply DEET-containing insect repellent to exposed areas of skin before going outdoors. Do not apply the spray to areas that will be covered by clothing, avoid the facial area and fingertips to avoid eye irritation, and wash thoroughly after your time in bug country has come to an end.

While there are other holistic and mechanical means mosquito-biteto repel mosquitos (including various plant oils and sound-emitting devices and bracelets), these remedies have seen limited and in some cases minuscule success when compared to DEET-contaning sprays.

When bites do happen, barring any serious allergic reaction, treatment is usually simple and symptoms are not long-lived. An antihistamine such as Benadryl can be taken orally or can be applied directly to the bites themselves in the form of a topical creme. Alternatively, anti-itch ointments including benzocaine are often used. Most people find that a cool shower or bath with mild soap immediately alleviates their itching.

It is important to limit itching of the affected area as broken skin, especially in a less-than-tidy camping scenario, can lead to infection.

Stay safe, and itch free!

In-Pulse CPR – with 13 CPR and First Aid class locations in Tampa area

Capture2We are the largest provider of CPR and First Aid classes in Tampa with many class locations near you.

View our CPR class calendar now!

 

Progress is everything:

There’s a historical milestone in the fact that our Apollo 11 landing on the moon took place a mere 66 years after the Wright Brothers’ first flight.   Buzz Aldrin

First Aid & Safety doesn’t happen by accident – Author unknown

You will love our instructors! 

As business manager I receive many phone calls from those who are scheduling or will be attending a class.  Often they have questions as to what certification they need.  Sometimes I get someone who is in a panic as they cannot return to work because their CPR certification has lapsed.  I always do my best to help out where I can to get those calling registered for the correct class. 

I don’t often have someone call me after they have attended a prior class.  But occasionally we do.  Since we have attendee’s fill out a ‘course evaluation’ I always read comments that people have left.  Those comments help guide us to improve where needed if necessary.  Historically those comments are almost always fantastic (we loved the class, best class ever, I loved how this was done, etc).  I am thankful, as we have a wonderful team.

This morning, however I received one of those calls from a mother who had signed up her daughter for a CPR course to fulfill her need before starting clinical at a nearby school.  This mother said she had to call just to say that the daughter kept on raving how good the class was.  Recently, I received a similar call from someone who had been to CPR training classes with countless other organizations but this class was the ‘best by far’!  About a week later she called back to tell me that she had the opportunity to practice what she had learned on a drowning victim.

I appreciate all the feedback from our students.  It helps gauge how we are doing, as we always strive to do things better.  Please keep the comments coming.

Troy.

 

5 Reasons You Should Learn CPR

By Laura Crider

Some people think that performing CPR is a job for for paramedics or medical professionals. Others believe CPR is only for those with years of training and extensive experience in medicine. At In-Pulse CPR, we believe that CPR training is for everyone. We don’t take this stance because we want to increase our bottom line. Instead, we are passionate about CPR because we have seen how it saves lives and keeps families from being turn apart by loss. Here are five important reasons why you could consider learning CPR.

You’ll Be Equipped to Help Those You Love

Did you know that more than 80 percent of cardiac arrests occur while the patient is at home? This means that you are more likely to use your CPR skills to help someone close to you than assisting a stranger. We cannot control everything that happens to our loved ones, but we can do everything possible to be ready to help in case an emergency occurs.

Many people think of CPR as a skill to have when dealing with elderly or very sick family members. Although this is important, there is no age limit when it comes to who CPR can help. In fact, it’s a great idea for new parents and caregivers of little ones to understand the principles of infant and child CPR.

CPR classes are fun!CPR Is Easy to Learn

You don’t have to be a genius or complete years of medical school to learn and perform CPR effectively. One of the main benefits of CPR is the fact that it can be performed by just about anyone at any time. At In-Pulse CPR, we facilitate a variety of CPR classes. Many of our students are surprised to find out how quickly they can master these skills when they study with a patient, experienced instructor.

Why not register for a class today?  Visit our calendar of community classes in your area and register.

Brain Death Doesn’t Wait

You know that it’s important to call 911 as soon as possible when an emergency occurs. This is a vital step, but unfortunately, it’s not always enough. Although emergency personnel send help as quickly as possible, no emergency response is instantaneous.

In most cases, brain death starts occurring in as little as four minutes after the heart stops functioning. When you begin CPR right away, you can help the patient minimize the risk of brain damage.

You’ll Feel Confident in An Emergency

Emergencies always seem to occur at the most unexpected times, and they have a way of making you feel helpless and confused. When you complete CPR training, you will have the skills and knowledge necessary to perform CPR in an emergency situation. You’ll also have the confidence you need to make good decisions and do everything possible to help.

You Can Save a Life

As of 2016, cardiac arrest is still one of the leading causes of death in the United States. According to national statistics, less than 30 percent of people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital receive bystander CPR. You don’t have to feel helpless when it comes to your response in an emergency situation. Instead, enjoy the confidence and satisfaction that comes from knowing that your CPR skills can be used any day to help save a life.

Sources:

https://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/health-answers/top-5-reasons-to-get-your-cpr-training-now/

 

https://www.ymcadallas.org/blog/2013/07/08/40/summer_safety_the_top_reasons_everyone_should_know_cpr_first_aid

 

 

 

 

Laura: This is my story

Over 300,000 people have their hearts stop suddenly (suffer Sudden Cardiac Arrest or SCA) yearly in

the United States alone. Most survivors return to their home and back to their usual activities. Of these

survivors, many were previously healthy.

Since the AHA Guidelines 2000 we have been taught that for every minute that passes between

collapse and defibrillation, survival rates from witnessed sudden cardiac arrest decrease close to 10%.

When bystander CPR is provided, the decrease in survival rates is more gradual and averages 3% per

minute. That’s like an additional 7 people out of 100 that will survive or 21,000 people per year!

One such person is Laura and this is her story of survival:

In earlier months my boyfriend had taken a CPR training course through his work. On the night of my

sudden cardiac arrest, he began CPR while ringing for an ambulance. Fortunately, they arrived minutes later.

 

Re-establishing blood flow to the vital organs is the single most important factor for successful resuscitation when the duration of cardiac arrest is prolonged.

– Professor Wanchun Tang, MD

 

 

As the ambulance arrived, paramedics soon reached me with a defibrillator. After three shocks, they

got a pulse and escorted me straight to hospital. Upon arrival, the hospital staff were

extremely alert and kept my family updated at all times. Procedures to restore my heart to a normal

rhythm began straight away. I was put into a coma and my body cooled or ‘frozen’ for three days; I was

very poorly. In total, I was in hospital for approximately two weeks. Before having my operation (I was

recommended for an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), I remember being in hospital and

watching a documentary about Fabrice Muamba and was stunned! I couldn’t believe I had suffered just

like he did and also share the same birthday! It made me feel more at ease going into my operation to

see people like him still living their life.

After coming out of hospital, I feel so lucky to have a second chance at life, however

I did feel slightly hopeless and very tired but I know this is completely normal. With the help from my

cardiac rehab program, I feel like a new person and I’m now living my life to the full. I couldn’t ask for

more, from the help I have had from family and friends and most of all from my boyfriend for saving my life.

Laura, 2015

Joggers life was about to change

When Todd Tewksbury set out for his routine daily jog back in August of 2014, everything about it felt normal
from lacing up his cross-trainers to the feel of his old t-shirt, nothing stood out as odd to him as he said goodbye to his
mother and set out along his route. He couldn’t have known that in just a few minutes and a few miles, his life was
about to change forever and if not for some quick thinking onlookers, he may have lost it entirely. Of course, how could
he have known? There was no reason to consider that as he approached JFK by the art museum on his typical path, he
would suffer joggerfrom cardiac arrest and fall to his knees. After all, Todd, a 27-year-old athlete, had no reason to consider
something like heart failure could even happen to him, let alone that it would find himself suddenly slumped on all fours
that summer day along the waterfront.
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Cardiac Arrest is the unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and
consciousness. Sudden cardiac arrest usually results from an electrical disturbance in your heart that disrupts its
pumping action, stopping blood flow to the rest of your body.” Although there is potential to survive an attack it
becomes incredibly minimal if emergency medical treatment is not performed immediately. Because the heart is no
longer pumping blood and vital organs are deprived of oxygen, it is imperative that the individual suffering the attack
receives CPR or treatment with a defibrillator within seconds. Although only 11% of people survive an attack nationally,
that number could greatly improve to 38% if more people to knew CPR. Lucky for Tewksbury, he fell into the 11%
survival rate thanks to a group of strangers who also had a mind to enjoy the Schuylkill River Trail that day.

Dr. Aaron Mendelson and his wife were a few yards away when they rushed to Todd’s side upon seeing him fall to
the ground, they assumed he was having a seizure given that he was a fairly young and athletic man. Once they reached
him however, it became evident that he did not have a pulse and they knew it had to be a heart issue. Arron, a resident
at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and his wife, an ER doctor were very well trained in the emergency
care of Cardiac Arrest and began to administer CPR in attempt to provide Tewksbury’s vital organs the oxygen they
desperately needed. Meanwhile, another concerned individual, part of the small crowd that had gathered around, used
Todd’s phone to call his mother Louis, alerting her to what was happening to her son. As Louis and her family rushed to
the hospital to meet Todd upon his arrival, the group with him on the waterfront administered CPR for a total of 11
minutes at which point two women brought over a defibrillator from a nearby recreational center, delivering a lifesaving
dose of electric current in order to start his heart back up.
Todd is alive and well today and he along with his family are incredibly grateful to the Mendelson’s and others that
stepped in and took action that day. It was incredibly lucky that there were trained medical professionals within the
general vicinity of where the incident occurred, however, Dr. Mendelson says that anyone could have done what he did
to save Todd’s life. The doctors treating him in the days following the attack, noted that CRP was the main factor in his
survival and his ability to walk out of the hospital, without it Todd surely would have died. No small detail to Tewksbury
who noted he would be learning CRP and educating himself in emergency care in the hope that should he ever find
himself on the other end of this situation, he would be able to pay it forward and save another’s life.

University of Minnesota Student or Staff CPR classes

Are you a new student required to get your CPR certification?

Is your CPR certification expiring?

 

We offer CPR certification classes at over 13 locations in the Twin Cities area with location near the U of M campus.

Capture2

Click here to View our Class Calendar

U of M Minneapolis students the following certification are available:

BLS Healthcare CPR / Heath care Professional / BLS Provider through the American Heart Association, Heartsaver CPR & AED- These classes are showing in yellow on our calendar.

Heartsaver First Aid (with or without CPR) – These classes are showing in orange on our calendar.

 

 

 

 

BayCare medical staff CPR classes

Is your BLS Provider CPR certification expiring and BayCare is requiring you to renew it?

We offer CPR certification classes at over 13 locations in the Tampa Bay area

Click here to View our Class Calendar

 

 

The following certification is required at BayCare:

BLS Healthcare CPR / Heath care Professional / BLS Provider through the American Heart Association- These classes are showing in yellow on our calendar.

 

Bartow Regional Medical Center , BayCare Alliant Hospital, Mease Countryside Hospital, Mease Dunedin Hospital, Morton Plant Hospital, Morton Plant North Bay Hospital, St. Anthony’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, St. Joseph’s Hospital-South, South Florida Baptist Hospital, Winter Haven Hospital, Winter Haven Women’s Hospital

CPR in Schools

Before he graduates from high school, you know that your student will be taught about literature, algebra, and even health. Today’s public school teachers work hard to give students a well-rounded education. However, some schools also give students an added bonus. When students from these schools receive their high school diplomas, they have CPR knowledge and training that can help them save a life.

Why is this necessary?

Grey states have no school CPR legislation
Grey states have no school CPR legislation

Tragically, even in 2016, approximately 90 percent of people who experience a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting lose their lives. This statistic even covers those who have a cardiac arrest in school or at school-sponsored activities.

This statistic is sobering, but CPR gives hope in life-threatening situations. According to the American Heart Association, a cardiac arrest patient’s chance of survival doubles or even triples if CPR is performed right away.

The majority of today’s teenagers in the United States receive their education through the public school system. When CPR is implemented as part of the curriculum, we have the amazing opportunity to change these statistics and empower the next generation with the skills they need to respond in a helpful manner in an emergency.

 

Can students really learn CPR?

Performing CPR is a very important task, and some people wonder if high school students can really learn CPR skills and perform them responsibly. These are great questions, but many people are surprised to find out how simple it is to learn the principles of CPR. In fact, even younger students can successfully master CPR and be ready to help others.

Some people also worry about using valuable class time to teach students CPR. Fortunately, CPR skills can be taught in just a few hours. Traditional school subjects are important, but few skills are more important than those that can help save a life.

 

What about teachers?

CPR training is great for students, but it is also very important for teachers. Many states have implemented mandatory CPR training as a part of teacher certification and re-certification programs. In most cases, teachers are already trained in how to use an automated external defibrillator, or AED. However, this is still not a reality in all states.

At In-Pulse CPR, we believe that CPR training has extensive benefits for both students and teachers. When a school’s teachers and staff members have CPR training, cardiac arrest victims can start getting the help that they desperately need even before emergency first responders arrive on site.

Thankfully, the United States has made a lot of progress over the last several years when it comes to CPR in schools. As of 2016, more than 30 states require public school students to complete CPR training during high school. There is still room for improvement, and we can save lives by ensuring that more people receive CPR instruction both in and out of school settings.

Most of our readers reside in these three states:  Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Florida.  Unfortunately, Minnesota is the only one of the three where CPR taught in the public school system.

Whether or not this type of resource is offered by your state or school, you can contact In-Pulse CPR to learn more about CPR training options in your area.

Sources:

https://cpr.heart.org/AHAECC/CPRAndECC/Programs/CPRInSchools/UCM_475820_CPR-in-Schools-Legislation-Map.jsp

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/education/wp/2015/10/20/should-cpr-be-a-high-school-graduation-requirement/

 

 

 

 

Bloodborne Pathogens: Where They Are and How They Are Transmitted

When considering bloodborne pathogens most people believe that in order to be contaminated by these pathogens they must come in contact with the infected person’s blood in some way into a bodily orifice such as the mouth or nose to become contaminated, as well. But, it is a highly mistaken misnomer of the fact that pathogens only reside in the bloodstream. These same pathogens can be found in many other places where bodily fluids reside in the human and mammal body.

There are many means for pathogen to come in contact with another host in the body and many ways for one to become infected by these pathogens. These potentially harmful fluids include semen, the viscid, whitish fluid from the male during sexual coitus and, vaginal secretions that come from the female cervix fluid. Cerebrospinal fluid, the colorless liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord can carry serious pathogens that can lead to serious damage to the body and leave catastrophic brain damage and even death. Synovial fluid, fluid that lubricates and cushions joints between the bones in the body can be a carrier of these pathogens. Pleural fluid, the fluid between the pleural membranes of the lungs and the inner chest walls, can, also, be a carrier fluid of pathogens released into the air by simply coughing and even breathing. Peritoneal fluid, the fluid in the gastrointestinal organs, is yet another means of passing these pathogens along to other hosts that can pass the pathogens in a vicious cycle to another host. Amniotic fluid carried in the amniotic sac surrounding the fetus of a gestational female can carry pathogens that can be passed to the fetus from the mother and any other host that comes in contact with the pregnant mother. Saliva is another form and path to pass these pathogens on to the next host and probably the easiest way to send these pathogens on to their next destination. Practically any bodily fluid that carries blood cells, and all bodily fluids carry blood cells, will be able to contaminate the next available warm blooded host.

It is highly important to be aware and to be knowledgeable about the various and many ways that exposure and transmission are most likely to occur in any particular situation whether it is in providing something as simple as minor first aid to handling blood specimens in a laboratory, to cleaning a dirty bathroom floor or kitchen countertop. Various and just a few ways to make contact with pathogens include sexual contact, the sharing of hypodermic needles. From mother to babies at birth or before birth, accidental punctures from dirty needles, broken glass or other sharps, contact between broken or damaged and infected body fluids, contact between mucous membranes and infected body fluids. Anytime there is blood-to-blood contact with infected blood or body fluids, these is a potential for transmission.

Unbroken skin forms an impervious barrier to prevent these pathogens entering your body other than your natural bodily orifices. However, infectious pathogenic blood can enter your system through such ways as open sores, abrasions, cuts, acne and any sort of damaged or broken skin such as sunburns or blisters. Even your eyes, nose and mouth are pathways for bloodborne pathogens to enter your body. It is important to always remember to cover your mouth and nose by covering your face in the bend of your elbow when coughing and/or sneezing. Back away as quickly and as far as you can when someone else is coughing or sneezing without covering their face to ensure you are not contaminated should the other person be a carrier of such pathogens. One can never be too careful in keeping away from the microscopic pathogens that cause disease and illnesses that can lead to something as small as discomfort to as devastating as death itself.

Heart Attack During Business Travel: Heroes Among Us

Traveling for work can be stressful. Being in an unfamiliar city with no immediate support personnel like family or friends can add to that stress. Having a cardiac episode on top of all that stress can potentially be deadly. That is the story of a co-worker of my wife.

A 60+ year old Sales professional was on business travel when he started feeling ‘off’ while at the hotel. Arm/shoulder pain, feeling nauseated and feeling like he wanted to pass out, he went to the hotel lobby to get help.

Three (3) hotel staffers (all trained in CPR/AED) noticLobby-Businessmaned signs of a heart attack and immediately sprang into action. One staffer called 911. One prepped the hotel’s AED and provided aspirin. The 3rd staffer attended to him and kept him calm. It was no time before an ambulance arrived. He was transported to the hospital, treated and made a full recovery. A happy ending for certain, but how frightening does that sound? Having to deal with a serious health incident while being miles from home without your normal support network around you is hard to imagine.

When I think of this type of event, I NEVER associate it with being somewhere other than near home where help seems to be conveniently at hand. Some statistics indicate that Monday mornings are one of the more likely times an episode would occur. While that may be supported by statistics, variation exists in almost all statistical data.

This story ended well. But what if the hotel staffers were not educated and didn’t take the right actions?  What if emergency care was not contacted immediately? My wife’s friend got a 2nd chance thanks to trained personnel who took action. While you may not realize it, your life could depend on medically trained experts beyond the typical police/fire/paramedics. CPR/AED/First Aid trained experts that may be in the grocery store, at work, walking down the street, at the gym or in your hotel. Someone such as this could save your life.

Do yourself and others a favor: Educate yourself.

  • There are classes that can be taken to help teach you how to treat someone in need.
  • Symptoms can be researched so you can identify when such an event is occurring to you or someone else.
  • Learn lifestyle changes that can reduce your chances of having such an event.

“Knowledge is power” is cliché but it may save your life or help save someone else’s. Taking a course as mentioned above could put another potential hero out in public. How good would it feel to say that you helped save a life? How grateful would the survivor or their friends/family be? I’m sure you know of a similar story. Maybe it didn’t have a happy ending. Maybe one trained person could have changed the outcome. Give some thought to being someone who is trained to make a difference.

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Disclaimer:
Use of any advise on this site is purely at your own risk.  The information supplied is designed to accompany CPR and first aid training not to replace.  In-Pulse CPR, Inc disclaims any liability for losses you incur as a result of inaccuracy of the information provided on this website.  Information on this site is for education, supplemental to examination by and advice of medical professionals.   Any information regarding first aid treatments is not meant to replace the advice of medical professionals including physicians, paramedics, emergency room attendants, nurses or other licensed medical personnel.