How Business Owners Can Benefit From CPR Classes

All throughout the gulf coast of Florida, there are several active, healthy communities such as New Port Richey, Town ‘n’ County and Tarpon Springs. These active communities are thriving with local businesses and organizations both large and small provider their employees with some form of health and safety training. Unfortunately, CPR classes and basic first aid training is not usually on the list. This is because safety and health training within a business usually focuses on how to avoid accidents or how to safely do your job. With an overwhelming population of older adults and elderly residents at risk for cardiac emergencies, the question is – would your staff know how to react if a co-worker were to go into cardiac arrest? Could they perform CPR and keep their co-workers alive until help arrived?

As a business owner, the worst thing in the world you can do is hope that someone who is currently working knows CPR and has basic first aid training. Instead, you should just work first aid training and CPR classes into your workplace In fact, here are all the ways your company can benefit from making this decision.

  1. Tailor The Classes To Your Industry

If you have a company with certain risks based on the job tasks of your employees, you can have CPR classes and basic first aid training that is tailored to meet the needs of your business. For example, the training individuals in an office is going to need will vary from the training individuals who work in a factory or at a construction site need.

  1. Long Term Investment In Your Business

Naturally, finding the funding for the CPR classes and first aid training is going to be a primary concern for any business owner. You have to stop thinking of CPR classes and first aid training as an expense and start thinking of it as an investment. You are investing in the safety and well-being of your employees.

Each and every employee you have is an asset. You invested time and money into getting them where they are today in your business. If something were to happen to one of them, you would have to start the entire process over. First aid training and CPR classes is an investment in your business, not an expense.

  1. Boost In Employee Morale

CPR classes and basic first aid training can be a lot of fun. In fact, it can be a great chance for your entire staff to socialize and get to know each other a little better. This will boost your employee morale which is going to do wonders for your business as a whole.

  1. Don’t Forget The Practical Benefits
  • Your entire staff will be more aware of safety. This is going to bring down the number of accidents that happen in the workplace.
  • CPR and first aid plays an integral part in saving lives and reducing injuries because they allow immediate action to be taken after an accident.
  • By having your employees take CPR classes and get first aid training, the first time they open a first aid kit isn’t going to be in an emergency situation. They are going to feel confident with the contents of the kit. They will know what everything is and what it is used for.

Providing your staff with first aid training and CPR classes isn’t going to cost you a lot of money, and it offers an incredible number of benefits. It isn’t a decision any business owner is going to regret.

Twin Cities Community is Officially Heart Safe

stillwater-signThe state of Minnesota is a beautiful place to live, work and raise your family. Minnesotans are hard workers who care about their state and each other. The small city of Stillwater, Minnesota is one of these close, family-centered communities. Stillwater, which is part of the greater Twin Cities metro area, has approximately 20,000 residents, and today’s residents are safer than ever thanks to the strides that the city has taken to become an official Heart Safe community.

 

Becoming Heart Safe

The Minnesota Resuscitation Consortium at the University of Minnesota reports that a person’s chance of surviving a heart attack in the United States can vary by up to 500 percent based on where they live. Because of this sobering statistic, Stillwater residents have made many important changes to increase the chances of survival after a cardiac arrest. In January 2016, the progress paid off as the city was named a Heart Safe community by the Minnesota Resuscitation Consortium.

 

The Consortium has developed a long list of tasks that cities can complete to earn the Heart Safe designation. In order to receive this honor, a community needs to accumulate at least 600 points by completing various tasks. Stillwater residents went above and beyond by earning more than 1,000 points, and they continue to make strides to make their community even safer for all residents and visitors.

 

Making Positive Changes

There is not just one action that makes a community heart safe. Instead, it the the combination of several different factors that can increase survival rates and help each member of the community feel more empowered.

 

During their journey to become a Heart Safe Community, the people of Stillwater held community CPR training events. Members of the Stillwater Fire Department led this training, and the department is proud to have four full-time employees who have successfully completed official CPR instructor courses.

 

This training was offered free of charge to residents, and the sessions focused on the hands-only method of CPR. This type of training instructs participants to use only chest compressions instead of both compressions and rescue breathing. Performing chest compressions might seem like a simple task, but it can actually make the difference between life and death in the time before emergency personnel arrive on site.

 

In addition to training community members in CPR, Stillwater also purchased potentially life-saving equipment. Community organizations, including the Lions Club and Elks Club, joined forces with the Minnesota Resuscitation Consortium to provide the financial backing for this project. Thanks to their generosity, the city of Stillwater now has CPR dummies to assist with training.

 

Automated External Defibrillators have been proven to increase a cardiac arrest victim’s chances of survival. Stillwater is working on developing a database of all AEDs located at both public and private city facilities. The state of Minnesota hosts a statewide AED registry, and the devices are also added to this helpful tool. It’s important for community members to know where these devices are located, along with understanding how to use them correctly in case of an emergency.

 

Getting the Training You Need

In-Pulse CPR is proud to offer high quality CPR training to 13 locations in Minnesota, including classes in the Twin Cities Metro area. Our instructors have years of experience in the medical industry along with plenty of real-life experience in education and training. We want our participants to be able to assist anyone in need at any time, so all classes include instruction in adult, infant, and child CPR techniques.

Healthy New Year’s Resolutions: Staying Active

At In-Pulse CPR, it’s no secret that we are passionate about health. We provide high quality CPR and first aid training sessions so that participants are ready to assist others when a health emergency occurs. However, we also realize that there is a lot more to healthy living than simply participating in a training session.

 

It’s hard to believe, but 2016 is starting to wind down. As the new year approaches, many people start thinking about New Year’s Resolutions. We believe that the most important resolutions are the ones that encourage a healthy lifestyle. If getting more active and increasing your level of physical activity is one of your resolutions for 2017, keep these tips in mind to ensure that you reach your goal.

 

Start Small

It’s great to have big goals and dreams, but you can actually set yourself up for failure if you push yourself too hard right away. If you currently spend more time on the couch than you do at the gym, telling yourself that you are going to the gym every single day can be more discouraging than motivating.

 

As you start getting active, exercising will become easier and easier. Don’t be afraid to start slowly, and work your way up to more intense activities. In addition to keeping you from getting discouraged, it can also protect you from injuries.

 

Do What You Love

You’ve probably heard the saying, “Do what you love, and you will never work a day in your life.” This same principle is definitely true when it comes to physical activity! There are so many different options out there, so don’t force yourself to spend time doing things that don’t bring you any joy.

 

Some people burn calories during solo workouts at the gym, while others love the built-in motivation of group classes. Some people appreciate the privacy of working out at home, while others appreciate soaking up the fresh air outdoors during a long run.

 

If you aren’t enjoying your fitness routine, don’t be afraid to try something new! When you look forward to your workouts, it’s a lot easier to get off the couch or out of bed.

 

Set Specific Goals

One of the most common reasons why people don’t stick with their resolutions is the lack of a specific goal. Sure, “getting more active” might sound like a goal, but it’s not specific enough to help you stay consistent.

 

Setting a specific and measurable goal is a very important part of setting yourself up for success. Some examples of concrete goals include:

-Complete a 5K by June 1

-Work out at the gym for one hour at least 2 times a week

-Participate in yoga once weekly

-Ride bike two miles every weekend

 

Each person’s needs and interests are different, so it’s OK if your goal doesn’t look like anyone else’s. Don’t worry about what others are doing. Instead, set a goal that is both reachable and measurable.

 

 

At In-Pulse CPR, we are grateful to be apart of your journey towards better health. We would love to hear about your healthy New Year’s resolutions so we can cheer for you!

Anaphylactic Shock

While CPR does not immediately come to mind when one thinks of allergy treatment, in times of anaphylactic shock CPR is a versatile and very applicable life saving tool.

anaphylaxis

Allergies can range in severity from a bothersome, annoying runny nose and itchy eyes all the way to nausea and cardiac arrest. It is estimated that allergies affect 30% of adults and up to 40% of children, with allergic disease, including asthma, being the fifth most present chronic illness in Americans.

What exactly are allergies? The human body’s immune system is designed to release antibodies to fight off invading viruses and bacteria. However, occasionally antibodies will be triggered by a substance that is not necessarily harmful or dangerous. This is referred to as an allergic reactions and can be the result of a particular food, inhalant, medication, insect sting, substance, or particulate like pollen or pet dander.

While most people’s allergies remain seasonal or environmental and can be treated to some extent with over the counter or prescription antihistamines or decongestants, some may experience severe reactions that may result in impaired breathing and be cause for serious concern. When someone’s reaction results in hives, swelling of the lips, tongue, and mouth, they are experiencing anaphylaxis. This condition often affects the airways and lungs too, and can be life threatening. While some people use the term “anaphylaxis” and “anaphylactic shock” interchangeably, this is not correct. Anaphylactic shock occurs when someone’s anaphylaxis is severe enough to cause inadequate blood flow to vital organs.

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If someone is experiencing anaphylaxis, it’s important to act quickly and remain very observant. Call 9-11 immediately and ask the person if they have an epinephrine auto injector accessible. If so, ask them if they need help in administering it. If this is a first experience for them, they may not actually have such a device on them. Keep the person as calm as possible and have them lie down on their back with their feet raised about a foot. If the person is vomiting or bleeding, they should lay on their side as opposed to their back.

If the person suffering from anaphylaxis is not breathing or moving, it is time to administer potentially life saving CPR while waiting for emergency responders to arrive on the scene. CPR is an invaluable tool when properly applied. The majority of cardiac arrest victims die before EMTs are able to reach them. Performing CPR on a victim of anaphylactic shock as soon as possible can greatly increase their chances of survival.

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Exploring The Benefits of Taking CPR Classes

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The unfortunate truth is that sudden cardiac arrest is considered to be one of the leading causes of death in America. The reason why so many people who have cardia arrest outside of a hospital die is because there are no bystanders who are capable of performing CPR to increase the chances of survival.

The truth of the matter is CPR is exceptionally easy to master. In fact, CPR classes are taught to tens of thousands of willing individuals every year. Still need some convincing? Here are all the reasons why you should take CPR classes and get certified.

It Saves Lives

The biggest reason for anyone and everyone to take CPR classes is because CPR saves lives. There are more than 300,000 people who are going to have a cardiac arrest every single year in the United States. Sudden cardiac arrest is something that occurs when an electrical rhythm problem occurs in a person’s heart which prevents it from being able to pump blood through the body. The longer your body goes without this blood, the lower your chances of survival become. Performing CPR will help the blood continue to flow through the body until an ambulance and arrive to assist. CPR is so helpful that statistics show it more than doubles a person’s chance of survive when it is started early.

CPR Outside of a Hospital is Uncommon

Statistics show that the likelihood of a bystander stepping in and performing CPR is unlikely. In fact, only somewhere between 15 and 30 percent of individuals who have a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital are going to receive CPR. When people are later asked why they never started CPR the answer is usually the same – they didn’t know how. If everyone would take CPR classes, this is a problem that could be avoided. Naturally, people have other fears such as hurting the person, hurting themselves, legal risks, or concerns about infection. These other fears, however, tend to go away when a person attends CPR classes and receives proper CPR training.

Mouth-To-Mouth Isn’t Necessary

Another big reason why people do not do CPR in the field is because they do not want to do mouth-to-mouth. People who have this line of thinking are people who have never been formally trained to do CPR as this is not a necessary technique. In 2010, the guidelines for a person performing CPR changed. The guidelines state that if someone is uncomfortable with CPR or has not been formally trained with CPR – they should only do hands-on CPR. The truth is that hands-on CPR has proven to be just as effective and just as helpful for someone who has had a sudden cardiac arrest.

As you can see, taking CPR classes may be the reason you are able to save a person’s life one day. Do you really want to walk around in a world where no one knows how to perform CPR in a moment when it is needed most? You can be the first domino to fall by taking CPR classes.

AHA Key point 2015 – Hands Only CPR

 

By Peter J Klotunowitch

The American Heart Association (AHA) gave a “Call to Action” for bystander witnessed an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest of probable cardiac origin. The national news media picked this up and announced to the public that the new AHA recommendation is to do compression only Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation. From the number of posted questions I’ve seen on-line there seems to be a lot of confusion.

This call to action for bystander does NOT apply to unwitnessed cardiac arrest, cardiac arrest in infants, children, or cardiac arrest presumed to be of non-cardiac origin, such as drowning, trauma, airway obstruction, acute respiratory disease and apnea (such as associated with drug overdose).

If this clarification begins to sound a bit confusing, let me try to simplify it a bit. The new recommendation seems to be directed towards the non-trained rescuer. The idea of having more people getting involved, in providing care, would lead to more successful resuscitation. Many people may be reluctant to get involved due to fear of contracting a disease (through mouth to mouth breaths) or being unable to provide proper CPR skills. The new guidelines are as follows:

* If a bystander is not trained in CPR, then the bystander should provide hands-only (compression) CPR, pushing in the middle of the chest hard and fast until an AED arrives or emergency personnel take over the care of the victim.

* If a bystander was previously trained in CPR skills and is confident in his/hers ability to provide rescue breaths with minimal interruptions in chest compressions, then the bystander should provide conventional CPR using the 30:2 compression to ventilation ratio.

* If a bystander was previously trained in CPR skills and is NOT confident in his/hers ability to provide conventional CPR, then the bystander should provide hands-only (compression) CPR, pushing in the middle of the chest hard and fast until an AED arrives or emergency personnel take over the care of the victim.

If you know your skills and are confident in performing them, the best care for the victim is still CPR with compressions and rescue ventilations. On the other hand if you are reluctant or have not had proper CPR training, then beginning chest compressions alone without rescue ventilations is beneficial to the victim and should be start immediately and only discontinued when someone with a higher skill or emergency personal arrive.

Miami Dade Schools adding CPR as part of their curriculum

In a forward-thinking and health-minded ddade-schoolecision, the school board of Miami-Dade county has become the first in the state to elect to educate students in Hands-Only CardioPulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) as part of their Physical Fitness curriculum. While Florida is not one of the country’s 34 states that require that students be taught CPR in schools, the American Heart Association is hopeful that Florida’s largest district will set a precedent and lead the way for other counties to follow suit. Teaching CPR in school is an easy, convenient way to educate generation after generation of potential life savers.

Statistically, when applied straight away, CPR can triple the survival rate of someone who has suffered from cardiac arrest. A population with proper training can provide significant support for a person who’s life may hang in the balance as they wait for emergency responders to arrive.

This summer in Winter Haven, FL, nine year old Thomas Ingram, Jr. was pulled from the bottom of a swimming pool by his friend, ten year old Larry Wagner. After getting the attention of a family friend and another man, CPR was finally administered to Ingram by a third adult, a property security guard, and he survived what could have very well been death by drowning.

Thankfully, that scenario had a happy resolution. However, imagine a situation in which the property’s security guard was not present. Larry Wagner was able to pull his friend out of the swimming pool, but then what? Not one, but two adults responded to his cries for help and yet neither acted in a manner that could effectively save Ingram’s life. The story could have had a very different and tragic ending were it not for the security guard’s education and quick actions.

Now imagine a scenario where not only the two adults present had adequate CPR training but perhaps even young Wagner himself.

The first line of defense against death by cardiac arrest is not millions of dollars of cutting edge medical equipment, but the intellectual understanding of a very simple and effective life saving technique. Neglecting to teach young students CPR is neglecting the possibility that any one of them could at some time in their lives find themselves tragically unable to assist a loved one in dire need. It also neglects the fact that any one of us could just as well suffer from cardiac arrest and become completely dependent on those around us to come to our rescue.

The Miami-Dade board’s decision is to be applauded and emulated as it will surely have a life-saving effect on the future of its student body and their associates.

Don’t get more than you asked for during the Holidays

The Holidays are, of course, a great time to reconnect with friends and family. Smiles and stories are shared as we all take a break from the grind of our busy lives. However, it’s not uncommon to also share germs during the flu season, and people tend to gain weight as the weather gets cooler and the food becomes more indulgent! Here are some tips to help you stay happy and healthy during your holiday travel and visits:

holiday-blues

– Carry disinfectant wipes with you. Bus rails, arm rests, airport chairs… all of these surfaces are germ magnets. Wipe down any surfaces that you might find yourself coming in contact with as you traverse bustling public areas during the holiday traveling season.

 

– Use hand sanitizer. As an additional defense against surface-borne bacteria and viruses, use hand sanitizer to help keep your hands germ free when a proper hand wash can’t take place.

 

– Don’t skip the treats, but don’t over indulge either. If you are going to be around a lot of tempting desserts and junk food, try chewing some gum. Not only does it “trick” your brain into thinking you are eating, but grandma’s peanut butter cookies will probably be a lot less tempting with a mouthful of spearmint gum.

 

– Get a flu shot! Sure, they aren’t always 100% effective, but it’s certainly better than nothing. The very young and very old are the most susceptible to the flu’s worst symptoms, but weeks of illness aren’t likely to fit into even the healthiest person’s schedule.

 

– Rest! If you find yourself under the weather, get as much rest as possible. The extra time off from work that the holidays bring is a great opportunity to try to catch up on sleep and hibernate for a while. Your body will thank you.

 

– Drink plenty of water and moisturize. As the weather cools down and the days get shorter, it’s easy to forget to stay hydrated. However, drinking plenty of fluids is not a rule that just has to be followed in the summer. Dry sinuses are a goldmine for the common cold, and dry, rough skin on your hands provides more surface area for bacteria and viruses to cling and find their way to your face. Put a bottle of lotion next to your sink to remind yourself to lather it on after your wash your hands.

 

– Don’t forget others! The holidays can be a very difficult time for those suffering from depression or in the wake of a family loss. Take the time to give not only gifts this year, but also your time and attention to people you know who might be having a hard time emotionally. Is there an extra spot at your holiday table?

Sudden Cardiac Arrest Victim Gets Assist from Technology

For Kory Trebbin, attending church on a Sunday morning in May, there was little warning that this day would differ from other Sundays. But, before it was over, the 53-year old Santa Clara resident would experience sudden cardiac arrest, lose his heartbeat for a full 18 minutes, and have his life saved by an off-duty ER physician who answered an alert from a mobile app in her phone.

pulsepointOn seeing that Trebbin was unresponsive and had no pulse, witnesses dialed 9-1-1, summoning professional first responders. Simultaneously, a nearby off-duty ER physician was alerted via her Smart Phone of this emergency just blocks from her home. Arriving before the first responders, she performed CPR on Trebbin until police arrived with an Automated External Defibrillator, or AED, which she used to re-establish productive heart rhythm.  She then accompanied Trebbin via ambulance to the nearest hospital, which happened to be the hospital at which she worked.

The app which alerted her, PulsePoint, is designed to strengthen the “chain of survival” by alerting nearby CPR-trained citizens to sudden cardiac arrests in the area, thus increasing the odds that lifesaving measures can be taken even before the arrival of Emergency Medical Services personnel.

Sudden cardiac arrest, which involves a malfunctioning of the heart’s electrical system, is often fatal, especially without medical intervention. In fact, after 10 minutes without resuscitation, there is little chance the victim will survive. So it’s not surprising that out-of-hospital SCAs are a leading cause of death in America, claiming the lives of 420,000 – close to half a million – people each year. The American Heart Association reports that prompt bystander assistance – early CPR and the administration of a therapeutic shock from a defibrillator, when indicated — can double and even triple chances of survival, and help reduce this grim statistic. LA-based cardiologist Dr. Leslie Saxon agrees on the need for bystander intervention, stating “It’s going to take a community to impact the dismal survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients.”

Trebbin, who suffered no cognitive damage in spite of having no heartbeat for 18 minutes, called his survival a “miracle” and credited the 911 callers, the first responders, and the existence of the mobile app. “PulsePoint connected me with someone who could, and did, save my life,” Trebbin said.

Joe Farrell’s Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survival Story: CPR Saved His Life And Someone Else’s

In the moment when sudden cardiac arrests strikes, a split second decision to get down on your hands and knees to perform CPR may be just the ticket to save the victim’s life. In fact, studies and medical research reveals that individuals who receive CPR within two minutes of a cardiac arrest are less likely to suffer brain damage.

Joe Farrell is a cardiac arrest survival victim who knows firsthand – on two different accounts – how CPR can save a life. In August of 2008, Joe had just arrived at a professional friend’s house around 2 p.m. He and his wife were attending a memorial dinner on behalf of their friend’s husband who had recently passed away. According to Farrell’s wife, he was speaking to a few friends and a local track coach when he suddenly collapsed. Unconscious and not breathing, the track coach immediately started to perform CPR on Farrell while someone else contacted paramedics. It took paramedics between 5 and 6 minutes to arrive on the scene. When they arrived, they shocked him four times to bring back his cardiac rhythm.

What is so unique about Joe’s cardiac arrest survival story is that just one year prior in August of 2007, when he was 55-years-old, he saved a man’s life by performing CPR on him. He was on a golf course in Nevada when he stumbled upon the man – who was unconscious and not breathing when he found him. Farrell performed CPR while a second golfer contacted paramedics. According to Joe, time appeared to move in slow motion as it took paramedics what seemed like forever to arrive. The victim was transferred to a hospital via helicopter and also survived the cardiac arrest. To this day, he and Joe are good friends.

Joe Farrell believes he is lucky to have known how to perform CPR and is even more lucky to have been in the presence of someone who knew CPR as well. Had CPR not been immediately performed on himself and the man he found unconscious on the golf course in Nevada one year prior to his own cardiac arrest, he doesn’t know if he or the other man would still be alive today.

Rescue Breathing? CPR? I’m confused!!!

I have heard people talk about giving/not giving breaths with CPR and also about “rescue breathing”. I am confused…What is the difference? How do I know what to do?  These are questions often asked at a CPR class, and I would like to clarify it for you.  Maybe even give a SIMPLE answer to take away your fears.

CPR with/without giving breaths is used when the victim is Unresponsive, Not breathing , and has no pulse.  Chest compressions are done and breaths (if given) alternate ..30 compressions then 2 breaths

Rescue breathing is used when an adult, child or infant has a pulse but is not breathing effectively. Rescuers would NOT be doing chest compressions.  For an adult, you would provide one breath every 5 to 6 seconds (a good hearty breath. Watch for the chest to start to rise). For a child, one breath every 3 to 5 seconds (lighter breath…just enough to see the chest START to rise) For an infant, one breath every 3 to 5 seconds (just a puff from your cheeks. Be sure that you are just providing a puff, as an infant’s lungs are very small. Watch for the chest to START to rise and stop)

Did you notice a common number in these rescue breaths?  The number is 5 seconds.  So if you remember the number 5, you can safely provide rescue breaths for an adult, child or infant by providing one SAFE breath every 5 seconds.  IF AN INFANT’S PULSE GOES TO 60 OR LESS, YOU WILL NEED TO SWITCH TO CPR.

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The Life-Saving Importance of AEDs in the Workplace

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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.

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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!

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.

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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.