Posted by By TNONLINE.com September 13, 2022 on Sep 20th 2022
LVHN Health Tips: You and CPR can be a lifesaving combination
LVHN Health Tips: You and CPR can be a lifesaving combination
Be prepared to make a difference at a moment’s notice.
Knowing CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), especially hands-only CPR, and how an AED (automated external defibrillator) works could save the life of someone you love during cardiac arrest.
However, the American Heart Association (AHA) says 70% of Americans feel helpless to act because they don’t know CPR or it’s been too long since they were trained. (The AHA also says bystander CPR can double or triple someone’s chances.)
And a 2019 survey commissioned by Cintas Corporation showed nearly two-thirds of Americans weren’t confident they could operate an AED.
Cardiac arrest stats and facts
Home may be where the heart is, but it’s also where most cardiac arrest happens, says the AHA.
Christopher Greb, executive director at Macungie Ambulance Corps, teaches CPR and says he always tells his students to do their best in a situation that calls for CPR.
“I tell them CPR is kind of like pizza,” he says. “Any CPR is better than no CPR, and any pizza is better than no pizza.”
He says the key is to recognize cardiac arrest, call 911 and start aiding the victim. Greb says there are some cases where rescue breathing along with chest compressions is optimal but notes any effort can be beneficial.
“If you’re not comfortable doing the breathing, just do hands-only CPR. That increases a person’s chance of survival.”
Did you know?
Nearly 383,000 out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrests occur annually in the U.S.
Greb points to several relatively recent incidents involving Macungie Ambulance that show the value of CPR and AED use.
Learning that something is wrong with your heart can be frightening.
At LVPG Cardiology - Carbon, we’re dedicated to providing you with advanced cardiac care.
To make an appointment, call 888-402-LVHN.