A great motto to live by is, “Be a valuable asset no matter where you are!” Having training and lifesaving skills can do just that. CPR/AED training is important for many reasons. It can save your life, your co-worker’s life, a stranger’s life, or your loved one’s life. Training is easily accessible to anyone who wants it, and the training is not hard to complete. Learning the basics is easy and it is something that will empower you throughout your lifetime. You can become a Rescuer.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, more commonly referred to as CPR, is a life-saving technique that helps maintain blood flow to the heart, brain, lungs, and other organs when your body can’t do it itself. Let’s break it down to understand what it means:
Cardio = relating to the heart
Pulmonary = relating to the lungs
Cardiopulmonary = relating to both the heart and lungs in one system
Resuscitation = the result of making something active again
Pro tip—get monthly reps in after completing your training to create muscle memory around performance and decision making. The more emergency ready you are, the higher the odds to have a confident mindset if an event takes place.
When a victim suffers Sudden Cardiac Arrest, the Rescuer must take action to help save the victim’s life. Ideally this Rescuer is a trained responder. The Rescuer should point to a bystander and direct them to call 911 and point to another bystander and direct them to retrieve an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)/first aid kit. The Rescuer will immediately begin CPR.
While waiting for the AED to be delivered, the Rescuer performing CPR is manually pumping the heart and circulating oxygenated blood to the brain and vital organs to keep the victim alive. During a cardiac event, brain damage can start to set in within 3 minutes. After 10 minutes, brain damage is irreversible. Starting CPR immediately can double or triple the chance of survival.
Unfortunately, CPR is not performed enough in emergency situations. According to the American Heart Association, 70 percent of Americans feel helpless to act because they do not know how to administer CPR or their training has lapsed. Only 32 percent of cardiac arrest victims get CPR from a bystander and in those first few minutes you, the Rescuer, are the first line of defense in helping save a person’s life. Joining the ranks of trained responders can have a real-life impact on SCA survival. We are stronger in numbers!
Although the AED is the only way to restart the heart, CPR maintains blood flow to vital organs until the AED arrives. Once the AED arrives, a shock is delivered to reset the heart’s rhythm and get the heart pumping on its own again. Every second counts!
Combining Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and using an AED gives an unresponsive person the best possible chance of survival. The average response time for EMS first responders once 911 is called is 7-14 minutes. According to the American Red Cross, “for every minute without immediate CPR and use of an AED, survival chances drop 10% percent.” Performing high-quality CPR and having access to an AED while knowing how to use one is absolutely critical.
We believe in creating a Culture of First Responders™ so that everyone is empowered to save a life. Quick actions from Rescuers can make a difference in life or death. Vera Training Solutions through RescueStat is the easiest way to get fully CPR/AED trained online. 98% of our trainees have reported feeling prepared to preform CPR and use an AED after taking this training. We offer American Red Cross Training in a virtual format and give you everything you need. Don’t just get trained, get Vera-fied!
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