Why Everyone Should Get CPR Certified

Why Everyone Should Get CPR Certified

1. CPR is easy to learn

You don’t have to complete years of medical school or be a doctor in order to learn how to effectively perform CPR. Just about anyone at any time can perform this life saving skill. 30 chest compressions to circulate the blood and 2 rescue breaths to deliver oxygen to the blood repeated until an ambulance arrives can be the difference between life and death for the cardiac victim. When giving chest compressions, do it at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute, or to the beat of ‘Stayin’ Alive’ by the Bee Gees. To open the airway, place one hand on the victim’s forehead to tilt the head back, and the other under the chin to lift it.  Don’t stop compressions until emergency services arrive at the scene. Cardiac arrest is sudden and can happen to anyone at any time, so getting formal training and certification is easy to do, easy to learn.

2. Feel confident in an emergency

In the case of an emergency, having formal training in CPR means you are given the tools and confidence to perform these simple procedures that transform yourself from the role of bystander to lifesaver. There is no time to read instructions or wait for help if you find someone that is in serious need of CPR. Whatever the emergency, first aid and CPR training allow you to react quickly and efficiently. Many people don’t realize the daily risk of being involved in a safety incident or accident, whether work related or while driving down the road. In fact, only 6.4% of Cardiac Arrest victims survive because people witnessing the incident are not confidently trained to do CPR and according to the American Heart Association, 70% of Americans feel helpless to act during a cardiac emergency due to lack of training. When these situations occur, think of how much better off every person involved would be if people were trained, confident and effective at responding to and treating emergencies.

3. Learn how and when to use an AED

AEDs are small, lightweight, portable electronic devices that deliver an electric shock through the chest wall of a cardiac arrest victim. They are programmed to recognize and shock abnormal heart rhythms and advise step by step prompts and instructions that can be used by anyone, regardless of experience. Our CPR training program explains how and when to use an AED, which can be crucial in these situations where an AED is the only effective intervention. With every passing minute before AED application, probability of survival declines by 7% to 10%. As AEDs have become more portable and user-friendly they have become more accessible and common around communities, so having the knowledge and confidence to find and use one is extremely useful skill that you didn’t know before.

4. Brain death does not wait

The first few minutes after a cardiac arrest are crucial, as a person’s brain will cease to function 4-6 minutes after the heart stops beating. By performing CPR, you are keeping blood flowing and providing oxygen to the brain and other vital organs before paramedics can arrive and giving the victim a much better chance for a full recovery. Brain death can start to occur in as little as four minutes after the heart stops beating and a victim that survives might experience permanent disability is serious cases. Recent studies have shown that people have a better chance of surviving with normal brain function when CPR is continued up to 38 minutes or longer; the faster and better properly trained you are, the higher the chances of survival and full recovery. Starting CPR immediately can minimize the risk of brain damage for a patient. In fact, if CPR is given within the first two minutes of cardiac arrest, the chances of survival double.

5. Benefit from formal training and certification

CPR classes are hands-on and interactive so you can learn how to properly execute and resuscitate in a fun and supportive environment. In the workplace, at school, or even just at home, being knowledgeable with CPR means a safer environment for all employees, students, and families. Being trained prior to a job interview might even be impressive for some employers, and for many fields is even a necessary component when applying to a job. Getting trained and maintaining your certification could be beneficial in the long term and become a lifelong skill that you know you are prepared to handle when the time comes. Learning CPR can be an empowering experience, as you gain the confidence in knowing if someone around you is in a life-threatening emergency, you’ll be ready.

6. Raise awareness

Although evidence has indicated that bystander CPR and AED use can significantly improve survival and outcomes from cardiac arrest, each year less than only 3% of the population receives CPR training. Despite these types of emergencies having the potential to occur anywhere, at any time, to anyone, bystanders are extremely unprepared to respond to cardiac arrest. Many people are simply at a loss on what to do if someone near them suddenly collapses, which results in people not doing anything at all. Getting certified yourself to become a part of the solution and raise awareness for others about the importance and necessity that CPR training provides. The more people that are CPR trained and those that are certified, the easier and more helpful it is in times of crisis.

7. Learn something new

By taking part in a first aid/CPR certification course, you are learning something new and useful, not just CPR, but a wealth of knowledge that you might not be aware of. For example, did you know that sudden cardiac arrest and a heart attack are not the same thing. Sudden Cardiac Arrest can occur at any time, anywhere and to anyone when the heart abruptly stops beating and blood is no longer being pumped to the rest of the body. Whereas a heart attack occurs when the blood supply to the heart muscle is suddenly blocked. Heart attacks can sometimes lead to SCA, but SCA’s may occur independently from a heart attack and without warning signs. Two-thirds of SCA deaths occur without any prior indications of heart disease and take one life every two minutes. CPR courses teach you valuable information that can come in useful in times of emergency.

8. Be someone’s hero

You might see a person suddenly collapse, lose consciousness, and stop breathing, but without proper training, what do you do? The longer the body goes without circulation, the lower the chances of survival, which is why over 200,000 people die every year, but 50,000 deaths could be prevented if CPR was performed. Less than 30% of people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital receive bystander CPR and 95% of those who experience SCA die because they did not receive life-saving intervention within 4-6 minutes, being one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Concerns regarding doing harm to the person, doing hard to yourself, legal risks, or concerns about infections diminish once people learn proper CPR techniques in a professional training session and become aware of the risks and how to prevent them. Being trained means you will have the knowledge and confidence to save a life and become a hero to a victim.

9. Save a child

Most people think CPR is a skill that is useful to care for elderly or sick family members, but there is no age limit to who CPR can protect. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1-4; all it takes is one minute for a child to drown. New parents and caregivers to little children can benefit with the peace of mind knowing they are trained in infant and child CPR, and ready should an emergency ever occur. Infant and child CPR differs from adult CPR, and it is important to learn the signs to look for the proper techniques when administering CPR to a child, as performing them incorrectly is potentially harmful. The education a certified CPR instructor can provide is invaluable for parents, guardians or caregivers to make sure each step is performed correctly. Being prepared could be the difference in an unforeseen emergency situation and leave you with a peace of mind you are ready.

10. Protect those you love

More than 80% of cardiac arrests occur while the patient is at home. A husband, wife, child, or friend could be involved in a medical emergency that requires fast and effective treatment. By getting trained in CPR, you are most likely to use your skills to help someone close to you or a loved one. In the safety of your own home, ambulances and medical help can not be there right away. Rather than feel helpless when someone you love is in danger, being able to take immediate action can make you and your family feel safer, should an emergency ever occur.

We are offering our Blended Online Emergency/Standard First Aid with Heartsaver Adult, Child and Infant December 11^th at our Cambridge location: https://heartzap.ca/event-schedule/ Visit our training calendar and sign up for the course just in time for the holiday season, so you can spend time with your friends and family and feel reassured that you are trained and encourage others to get certified themselves.

Sources:

https://ymcadallas.org/blog/summer-safety-top-reasons-everyone-should-know-cpr-first-aid

https://www.sja.ca/English/Safety-Tips-and-Resources/Pages/aed/why-aeds-are-important.aspx

https://inpulsecpr.com/5-reasons-learn-cpr.html

http://www.aed.com/blog/10-reasons-why-you-should-learn-cpr/

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

https://cprcare.com/blog/advantages-of-knowing-cpr-course/

https://www.healthworkscollective.com/the-top-5-very-important-reasons-to-learn-cpr/

https://www.cprconsultants.com/the-importance-of-learning-infant-cpr/