Posted by Avive November 22, 2021 | Last Updated: November 22, 2021 on Jan 25th 2022

10 Reasons Why CPR is Important

CPR is a critical life-saving procedure. Being CPR certified means you know how to quickly and properly administer CPR. This can mean life or death for someone in medical distress.

CPR is an acronym for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. CPR is critical in instances where a person’s heart stops beating or they stop breathing. Using rapid chest compressions mimics the heart beating to encourage blood flow, which can help the victim until additional help arrives.

10 Reasons Why it's Important to Learn CPR

When a person’s heart stops beating or the person stops breathing, death can occur within minutes. CPR can help save lives and minimize the damaging effects that can occur while waiting for emergency responders to arrive.

1. CPR Saves Lives!

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can happen to people at any time or place. Victims of SCA must be treated immediately. If CPR is performed immediately, it can double or triple the chance of survival from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

As a Cardiologist that gets called, not infrequently, for cardiac arrest patients, I can say that I have NEVER seen a patient survive a cardiac arrest to walk out of the hospital fully recovered if they did not have bystander CPR performed.”
–Dr. Allison Dupont, Cardiologist

2. Know What to do During a Cardiac Emergency

During cardiac arrest, the heart stops pumping blood to the brain and other vital organs. With a decrease in blood flow to the brain, the victim falls unconscious. The brain can suffer damage in as few as three minutes without proper blood flow. After nine minutes without blood flow to the brain, there can be irreversible damage. CPR helps to keep blood flowing and may help minimize the damage to the victim.

3. You’ll Know What to do During a Cardiac Emergency

Sudden Cardiac Arrest is witnessed by a bystander in approximately 37% of cases. That bystander could be you! Being trained in CPR provides the knowledge, confidence and skills to stay calm in a medical emergency and help a person in need. Individuals certified in CPR are prepared to make a difference in their community by being ready to jump into action anywhere a cardiac arrest happens.

Ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they have the skills, confidence and bravery to step-up and help a stranger in need!

4. Every Minute Counts in an Emergency

With any medical emergency, every second counts. Victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest require immediate CPR to prevent damaging effects from lack of blood flow to the brain, heart, lungs, and other organs. CPR can help increase the victim’s chance of survival.

5. Faster Recovery for the Victim

When a person suffers SCA and receives early CPR, they have a higher survival and recovery rate. CPR can help restore breathing and blood flow, aiding in the person’s recovery. In some cases, the victim may return to life with minimal side effects after receiving high-quality CPR.

6. CPR Makes Home Safer for Everyone

The most recent data suggest that 70% of cardiac arrests happen at home, with the vast majority of the victims dying before help arrives. That’s 250,000 lives lost each year in American homes, which is equivalent to one-third of the population of Seattle, WA. Learning CPR can empower you to take action and provide aid when and where a loved one needs it most.

7. CPR Makes School Safer for Kids

On any given day, 20% of the U.S. population can be found in school. Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the leading cause of death on school campuses. 1 in 25 US high schools can expect to have a SCA event each year. While an SCA emergency may not occur on your campus this year, or next year… the data shows that it will eventually happen. Many states require schools to train teachers and students in CPR prior to their high school graduation. It’s always best to be prepared, learn CPR!

8. CPR Makes Work Safer

There are about 10,000 cardiac arrests in the workplace each year in the United States. Workplace safety is vital for any business. Numerous companies are now training employees in CPR to ensure help is available in the office if a Sudden Cardiac Arrest should occur. When workers have First Aid and CPR training, they help reduce workplace accidents and can even save lives at work. Investing in CPR training for employees shows workers that the company cares about their health and well-being.

9. You May Learn How to Use an AED During a CPR Class

Many CPR classes include AED training. AED shock delivery is a key link in the chain of survival. AEDs are specifically designed to be easy to use but training can provide additional confidence and potentially save precious moments in an emergency.

10. Anyone Can Learn CPR

Fortunately, there are only a few simple things you need to remember in order to recognize SCA and save a life. There are quick and inexpensive CPR classes throughout the United States.

Become a Life Saver!

Currently, only a small portion of the U.S. population is trained in CPR annually, but survival from Sudden Cardiac Arrest depends on the quick response of people nearby calling 911, starting Hands-Only CPR, and using an AED as soon as possible.

Learn CPR and be prepared to save a life!