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 a leading cause of death.
- When a person has a cardiac arrest, survival depends on immediately getting CPR from someone nearby.
- About 90 percent of people who suffer out – of hospital cardiac arrests die. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.
BE THE DIFFERENCE FOR SOMEONE YOU LOVE
If you are called on to give CPR in an emergency, you will most likely be trying to save the life of someone you love: a child, a spouse, a parent or a friend.
- Over 50% of people who suffer form sudden cardiac arrest, have no previous cardiac history
- 70 percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in homes.
- 12 young people lose their lives every week in the UK form sudden cardiac arrest
- 270 of those young people suffer cardiac arrest whilst they are at school
- Unfortunately, only about 46 percent of people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest get the immediate help that they need before professional help arrives.
- Hands-Only CPR has been shown to be as effective as conventional CPR for cardiac arrest at home, at work or in public. It can double or even triple a victim’s chance of survival.
MUSIC CAN SAVE LIVES
- Hands-Only CPR has just two easy steps: If you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse, (1) Call 999 or 112 and (2) Push hard and fast in the centre of the chest to the beat of the disco song “Stayin’ Alive.”
- During CPR, you should push on the chest at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. The beat of “Stayin’ Alive” is a perfect match for this, and research shows that people are more likely to remember the correct pace when trained to the beat of a familiar song.
Automatic External Defibrillators (AED’s)
Many communities are now having AED installed, in old telephone boxes, outside their village hall, pub, shop or school. The sooner a patient who is in cardiac arrest can be shocked, the greater the chance of a return to a normal life.
If you would like some first aid training in relation to these and other conditions, please do not hesitate to contact Passion First Aid on 01452 446020, email enquiries@passionfirstaid.co.uk, or go to our website, www.passionfirstaid.co.uk
