L'Abbate, Balkan, Colavita & Contini L.L.P. was pleased to once again sponsor an on-site American Heart Association Heartsaver® CPR AED Certification Course for Firm employees. The training was held on October 11, 2023, in honor of World Restart a Heart Day.
Celebrated each year on October 16th, World Restart a Heart Day (WRAH) takes place worldwide. This global initiative was created to increase awareness of sudden cardiac arrest, and to educate the public about the importance of learning Hands-Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). WRAH promotes the idea that most everyone is capable of learning CPR and other basic life-saving techniques. The importance of rapid and effective bystander CPR is emphasized, along with increasing the rate at which its performed. This special day is also used to recognize the number of lives saved each year by CPR, and local 'heart heroes' are often honored by community organizations. Individuals who are trained in these life-saving skills become crucial links in the chain of survival, buying precious time until professional medical help can arrive.
Cardiac emergencies are, unfortunately, quite common. Sudden cardiac arrest is an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat, and disrupts the flow of blood to the brain and other organs. More than 350,000 incidents of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) occur annually in the United States, according to the American Heart Association. When a person is in cardiac arrest, their survival depends on immediately receiving CPR from someone nearby. Almost 90% of people who suffer from an OHCA will not survive. CPR, especially if performed in the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, can double, or even triple, a person’s chance of survival.
An often confused fact is that cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack, although both are considered medical emergencies. Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating, and is no longer able to pump blood to the brain, lungs, and other vital organs. A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart is slowed or blocked, but keeps beating. A person is in cardiac arrest when they collapse, lose consciousness, are unresponsive and not breathing normally, or are making gasping sounds. If you witness someone exhibiting possible signs of either one of these medical emergencies, do not hesitate, call 9-1-1 immediately. Having CPR/AED trained community members increases the chances that a bystander will be prepared to assist.
Who invented CPR? This question might seem like an easy one to answer, however, this isn't the case, as cardiopulmonary resuscitation has evolved through the years. Throughout history, medical experts have tried to develop the best way to restart a heart after it has stopped beating. This pursuit was further expanded by the invention of the automated external defibrillator, or AED. This too has gone through several evolutions. The current AED machine, now a standard installation in many facilities, is amazingly easy to use, and has saved countless lives.
If not, perhaps it’s time to schedule a CPR / AED training, or refresher course, at your organization…
1. How many compressions per minute does CPR require?
100 to 120 compressions per minute.
2. Can you name at least 3 songs with the ideal tempo for performing CPR?
Note: Tempo = Beat
Beat is the steady, consistent pulse of the song that you can tap your feet, or clap your hands to. Do not follow the melody or vocals of the song. In a frantic CPR situation, it’s easy to underestimate the speed of your chest compressions. It is better to err on the slow side by sticking to songs with 100 - 110 beats per minute, as below.
Stayin’ Alive (#1 response, naturally)
Dancing Queen
December 1963 (Oh What a Night)
Jump Jive & Wail
Life Is a Highway
Man in the Mirror
Master of Puppets
MMM Bop
Paradise City
Riders on the Storm
Say You’ll Be There
Semi-Charmed Life
Superstition
3. Who invented the AED?
James Francis Pantridge, a Northern Irish physician, cardiologist, and professor, invented the first portable defibrillator.
4. Can you name the 6 Key Links for the Chain of Survival?
Chain of Survival refers to a series of actions that rescuers (bystanders or paramedics) need to take to improve the likelihood of survival following a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Knowing and understanding these 6 key links can greatly reduce mortality rates.
The 6 Key Links in the adult out-of-hospital Chain of Survival are:
• Recognition of Cardiac Arrest and Activation of the Emergency Response System
• Immediate High-Quality Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
• Rapid Defibrillation
• Basic and Advanced Emergency Medical Services
• Advanced Life Support and Post-Cardiac Arrest Care
• Recovery
5. How deep should CPR compressions be?
CPR compressions should be 2” deep each time.
When someone experiences a cardiac event, every second counts. Knowing these critical skills can make all the difference. Your two hands have the power to save a life. Be a heart hero and take a certification course. Learning how to properly administer CPR, and to operate an AED safely, will help make your office, home, and community, a safer place for all.