Studies: Bystanders Who Know CPR Save Lives!

Written by Tom Sirmons                                                   

 

A wealth of recent research* reaches the same conclusion: those who suffer cardiac arrest are far more likely to survive long-term if a bystander immediately begins proper CPR. That’s especially true when emergency medical personnel are unable reach the scene within eight minutes. BUT – considering that brain damage from lack of  blood flow begins as soon as four minutes after heart failure, the need for CPR administration is vital, in the truest sense of that word, no matter how good you think EMT response-time is in your area. And there’s more:

 

If you learned CPR five or more years ago, you are almost certain to apply it incorrectly. Granted, survival rates are higher even among those who receive outdated CPR, but the American Heart Association now stresses that maintaining blood flow to the organs is more important than trying to restore breathing via mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. In fact, a study published in The Lancet several months ago found survival rates among heart attack victims are substantially higher when only proper chest-compression is administered. The old model of alternating compressions with breaths into the victim’s lungs is less effective. Also, note the italicized word above – proper!

 

Chest compressions must be performed with the right combination of repetition and depth to achieve optimal results. In a word, that means training. It’s not a matter of instinct or common sense to know how hard and how often to press down on a cardiac victim’s sternum. The fact is that it’s harder and more frequent than an untrained person is likely to realize. Here’s a hint about compressions: more than one per second! While a 911 dispatcher can you give you basic information over the phone, nothing takes the place of training, which is so readily accessible in almost every community.

 

The ultimate conclusion is that almost any intervention is better than none. After all, when the heart stops, death follows if no action is taken. But the goal is giving the victim his or her best chance at recovering and going on to live a healthier life. Medical authorities say the best known means of meeting that goal is different now than it was just a few years ago. If you’re not trained in CPR, call the American Heart Association and find out how easy it is. If you are trained, this would be a good time for a refresher. Lives hang in the balance. If others get the right instruction, one could be yours.

*citations available on request

Extreme Sports leads to a need for Extreme CPR

Josh Garner, Matthew Gibson, and Bert Fox had decided to celebrate their high school graduation together at Josh’s house. His parents were not home so the three teenagers had the house all to themselves. The spirit of fun mixed with alcohol endowed courage led them to try out what Bert liked calling extreme sports.

 

When Fun went Wrong

 

The three made it to up the roof of the house and decided to take turns diving off into the Garners’ pool. The boys were a little unsteady as they had already been through a case of beer. Matthew decided to take the first plunge and landed with a big splash into the pool. Bert tried to follow him but slipped on the tiled roof and skid off the edge, landing on the hard concrete by the side of the pool. Josh was still on the roof and couldn’t see what had happened, but it was Matthew’s cries from down below that made him realize something was wrong. Bert had landed on his head.

 

“He isn’t breathing!”

 

Matthew went numb. The terrified youngster had no idea what to do and was aghast at the site of his best friend lying on the side of the pool, blood pouring out of the cut on his brow. Josh the oldest of the three came down to find Matthew screaming at the top of his voice for help. Bert wasn’t moving. A wave of panic rushed through Josh as he tried to recall whatever he had ever learnt about first aid. He knelt by Bert and put an ear to his mouth, he couldn’t feel any breath. He couldn’t pick a heartbeat either; Bert Fox had gone into cardiac arrest.

 

Josh knew it was up to him to save his friend’s life as he thought about CPR. There wasn’t any time to waste. Pinching Bert’s nose and tilting his chin upwards, he blew air into his lungs then pushed down with both hands onto his sternum. Nothing happened. He repeated the process once more. This time Bert coughed and closed his eyes, but he had started breathing again and Josh could feel his heart beating under his ribs.

 

Timely Savior

 

An ambulance was called and Bert was hospitalized where he was treated for a fractured skull and a concussion. He had gone through what doctors called a trauma induced cardiac arrest due to his head injury. He was soon discharged and is perfectly healthy now. Josh’s timely and near perfect administration of Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation had saved his best friend’s life.

 

An Angel on Wheels

Angels don’t always appear in mystical visions. Sometimes, they show up on bicycles. During St. Petersburg’s ‘Meek and Mighty Triathlon’, an annual May event to raise funds for St. Anthony’s Hospital, 37-year old Teresa McCoy was about to finish the cycling competition when she noticed a man who’d collapsed on the street. Two police officers were hovering over him. Since McCoy is a nurse at Tampa General’s cardiac unit, she rushed over to investigate. The police said they thought the man, with whom McCoy had chatted briefly before the race, was having a seizure. McCoy’s observations and experience told her something different.

She checked the man’s pulse and found none – “He wasn’t looking good,” she said – so Nurse McCoy immediately started CPR. She also shouted for a portable defibrillator, which one of the officers kept in the trunk of his cruiser. McCoy said as soon as she shocked him, he came to. There’s little doubt the middle-aged man, who wasn’t identified, would have died on the spot if not for Teresa McCoy’s training in CPR. It’s highly probable that other bikers, who kept pedaling past the downed man, had no such training, even though it’s widely available at the Red Cross and other agencies. What possible excuse can there be for failing to learn a simple technique that can and does save lives?

Teresa McCoy has no doubt why she “just happened” on the scene. She said afterward, “I’m so glad he survived, I know that God put me where I was supposed to be. It’s like I was his angel today.” If the power to save lives, to be somebody’s “angel” is as easy as taking a few hours of training in CPR, what are you waiting for?

Survival story of a cardiac arrest victim

Millions of Americans celebrate our independence as they get together with friends, family and gobs of food for a blissful day at the beach or park followed by oohs and ahs at Fourth of July fireworks displays. But for two young women in Michigan with a special bond, this year’s annual commemoration marked the fifth anniversary of a truly special and personal event.

The weather forecast for July 3, 2006 was typical for the time of year – a hot day followed by an evening with a chance of showers. Residents of St. Joseph, Michigan and hundreds of other shorefront communities throughout the country gathered on the beach in anticipation of watching the rockets’ red, white, blue, green and gold glare. There were ominous clouds forming in the distance, but everyone thought the show would go on and be over before the rains came. Unfortunately, a storm formed suddenly, leaving lots of people in the path of a violent squall.

Lyndsay Prager, a then 10-year-old from Kansas, was spending the holiday weekend with her grandparents in southwest Michigan. Jessica Worthington, a then 15-year-old high school student from nearby Dowagiac, had also come to Silver Beach to watch the fireworks. But before anyone could safely find shelter, a big bolt of lightning struck Prager, as she and other family members were trying to find refuge in her grandfather’s truck.

Seconds after Worthington heard the loud clap of thunder, she heard a frantic cry for help. Dale Whiteaker, Prager’s grandfather, pleaded with anyone who could hear him that his granddaughter had been struck and needed CPR. Worthington, who was riding out the storm in her family’s car, had been trained in CPR and other life-saving techniques in her high school health class and responded immediately. She jumped out of the car, started CPR and resuscitated Prager. Prager was later taken to the hospital where she received treatment for her injuries and was released days later.

We all have our special foods, favorite places and ways to commemorate holidays. For Worthington and Praeger, nothing could ever top their reunion dinner at Silver Beach on July 3, 2011. They and their families got together at a pizza restaurant just steps away from the spot where a second chance at life was miraculously made possible by a good Samaritan with CPR training. It was truly a unique and wonderful way for these now friends-for-life to celebrate.

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In-Pulse CPR is now offering multiple CPR training classes in central Pennsylvania

CPR training classes now available at multiple locations near Harrisburg, the capital of PA

Online PR News – 16-September-2010 – In-Pulse CPR is now offering first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation classes at 6 locations in the Harrisburg Pennsylvania metro area for both community and health care professionals.

Class locations include: Harrisburg, Reading, York, Gettysburg, Hershey, and Lancaster. More locations are planned to be added over the next year.

“Currently In-Pulse CPR offers the four most requested American Heart certifications people ask for.” says Troy Bowman. Troy is the business manager for In-Pulse CPR. These certifications include Heartsaver CPR or Heartsaver CPR with AED. These courses teaches basic CPR to laymen. Layman include non medical employees such as day care staff, warehouse workers, babysitters, boy/girl scout leaders, grandparents, etc. Heartsaver First Aid is often taught along side the CPR certification and is taught to effectively recognize and treat adult, child and infant emergencies in the first 7 to 10 critical minutes before emergency help arrives. First Aid is primarily taken by daycare providers and office workers. “Our most popular certification” Bowman says, “is our BLS for Healthcare workers”. BLS stand for Basic Life Support and is for health-care professionals including nurses, dental assistants or anyone who has a health related degree. The course teaches CPR skills to help health-care workers deal with cardiac arrest, choking, and heart attack for all ages. Most nurses, EMT’s. dental workers, and nursing students are required to get “CPR Certified” by a qualified program such as through the American Heart. In-Pulse CPR is now offering Bloodborne Pathogens training. This course is for any non medical employee who could ‘reasonably encounter bloodborne pathogens within their daily job responsibilities. This is an OSHA approved course.

Students successfully completing most courses receive a two-year certification from the American Heart Association. The fee for each course varies. Registration can be completed online by visiting the company’s web site inpulsecpr.com.com/pennsylvania or by contacting them via phone at 717-585-6962.
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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.