Introduction

According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. Each year heart disease claims the lives of more than 600,000 people. And the numbers are gradually increasing each year. According to data released by the American Heart Association, more than 50% of cardiac arrests occur away from a healthcare setting. Tragically, more than 88% of these individuals who suffer cardiac arrest away from a healthcare facility die. The good news is that CPR can save lives if performed promptly.

Chance to Save a life

We live in a hectic fast-paced world. And accidents happen all the time- they may occur anywhere and any time. It is not often that one gets a chance to save a life. But by knowing CPR it can help you save someone; the individual maybe your child, parent, or even a stranger. The most beneficial thing about CPR is that training is not time consuming. It only requires a few hours of dedicated study time. The courses are given by trained professionals who ensure that you learn the basic information. Knowing how to perform CPR can be empowering as it gives you the confidence to deal with an arrest. Once you take a course in CPR, the basic techniques of saving a life will stay with you forever.

Why CPR Matters

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving technique that can help maintain blood flow to the brain and other organs during an arrest. Here are some reasons why knowing CPR is critical.

1. CPR can save a life. When you come across an emergency, the first action is to call 911 but it usually takes EMS a few minutes to arrive. During these precious few minutes, you have the perfect opportunity to save a life. If you have training in CPR, then you can apply the technique to assist the victim until the first responders arrive. By performing CPR ASAP, you can preserve blood flow to the brain and other organs.
2. Save the life of your loved one. The vast majority of cardiac arrests do not occur in a hospital but in a home. More importantly, many of the victims of sudden cardiac arrest may not have any known risk factors for heart disease. By knowing CPR, you can save the life of a loved one.
3. Improve your confidence. Studies show that about 30-50% of individuals who suffer a cardiac arrest never receive life saving assistance from bystanders. The reason bystanders may not want to perform CPR is because they may not have the proper training, fear of getting involved, or are not confident about their skills. Anyone can learn how to perform CPR. It is not a complex technique to master and is a technique that people of all ages can easily master. According to the American Heart Association, nearly 2/3rd of Americans who witness a cardiac emergency feel helpless at administering CPR. But by learning the technique once, the key information will be etched in the brain forever. Taking a course can greatly reduce your fears and boost your confidence in the event you have to administer CPR.
4. Prevent brain death. When the heart stops pumping blood, it only takes 4-6 minutes before the nerves in the brain start to die. Thus it is vital to restore blood flow to the brain as soon as possible. CPR can effectively maintain blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. This increases the chance that the individual may survive and make a complete recovery. Data show that when CPR is initiated within 2 minutes of a cardiac arrest, the chance of survival immediately doubles.
5. CPR improves your medical knowledge. There is no question that people who take CPR classes are a little smarter than those who do not when it comes to managing a cardiac arrest. By knowing CPR you will have the tools to save a life. Taking classes in CPR not only builds confidence in you but it will equip you with all the knowledge needed to perform a life-saving technique and save a life. The CPR training will allow you to make the appropriate decisions in running cardiac arrest
6. CPR classes are part of life and learning. Finally learning CPR is not difficult at all and it is a great technique to know just in case you encounter an individual with cardiac arrest. CPR classes should be part of everyone’s education. It is a work-related skill that has benefits that go way beyond the classroom as you may save the life of a loved one.