Did you know that nearly 1 of every 2 people have some form of heart disease!?
Almost 90 percent of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die. However, if CPR is performed in the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, it can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.
This is an email that came to me a few days ago from Steve, one of my fighters. It really reinforces why we need to learn CPR, and why we practice CPR in our boxing classes.
“Hi Kimberly,
I thought you might be interested in hearing the story about my brother and his heroism from yesterday afternoon. My brother Jon helped save a life! They were checking in to their fitness gym, when a woman came up to the front desk screaming that her husband had just had a heart attack and was outside in their car. Together, Jon and a gym employee sprang into action. First, the gym employee administered shocks with the AED (Automated External Defibrillator). Then, they took turns administering CPR until police, fire and ambulance arrived and took over. Finally, Jon provided comfort to the distraught wife. The man was alive and breathing when he left in the ambulance to the hospital. Hope he makes it; if he does, he will owe his life to the heroic efforts of Jon and the gym staff – true heroes!”
Then I received an update email the next day:
“Hi Kimberly,
Happy ending to report! The guy who suffered the heart attack came home from an overnight stay at the hospital yesterday morning and is doing fine. Fast action by his wife to call 911 while running back to gym for help, CPR/AED training, AED availability, trained staff, all did the trick. The gym employee said he’s grabbed the AED maybe 30 times during his 10 years in the business – but this was the first time the machine ever advised administering a shock. Paramedics said it likely would have been a different outcome without timely AED use.
It proves that we all need to be prepared to help save a life when the need arises. CPR training is essential for all of us. Having a defibrillator handy and knowing how to use it could make the difference between someone living or dying.”
Jon saved a life, and you can too! You never know who cardiac arrest might happen to. It could be your sweetheart, your child, or even a stranger. There is no reason to wait to learn how to do CPR.
Hands-Only CPR Can Save Lives. Don’t be afraid. Your actions can only help.
Here are the guidelines from the American Heart Association (AHA) for if you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse:
- Ask if they are ok. If no response:
- Call 911 First. You will be asked for your location. Be specific. If you know where an AED is, go get it.
- If people are around, point to one specific person and say, “CALL 911!! Get an AED”. Otherwise people will leave it to someone else to do it.
- PUSH HARD AND FAST in the center of the chest to the beat of any tune that is 100 – 120 beats per minute (think “Stayin’ Alive”). You must really push hard and allow chest recoil.
- When the AED arrives, connect and analyze. Proceed as instructed by the AED.
Go to the AHA website and find a class: www.heart.org/en/cpr
Why Learn CPR?
Cardiac arrest – an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and disrupts the flow of blood to the brain, lungs and other organs – is the number one cause of death in the United States and the world.
There’s no reason not to learn CPR. DO IT!
– Coach Kimberly