Statistics has shown that out of every five cardiac arrests, four happen at home. In fact, Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is said to be the leading cause of death in people age 40 and above, and the number is approximately equivalent to the number of deaths combined arising from other causes such as breast cancer, diabetes, HIV, cervical cancer, assault with firearms and many more. While more than a hundred thousand die from Sudden Cardiac Arrest each year, there is still a chance for this number to decline so long as the proper intervention is administered at the earliest stages. It has been widely recognized that one of the most effective interventions that the average man and woman can do to help prevent death from this condition is through CPR.
CPR, or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, is a first-aid technique that utilizes chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation in order to deliver oxygen to persons and to provide artificial heart circulation. This is a life-saving process that can be administered not only by professional medical teams but by all individuals who gets to learn the procedure.
It has been ascertained that cardiac arrests commonly occur at home or at work. There are times that it can happen in a public location. When SCA occurs and no medical help is nearby, it becomes imperative for you to be able to administer CPR. But how can you do this if you were not trained for it? Knowledge on CPR is vital since the life that you save may be most likely that of your loved one. It has even been shown that people who got to watch a video of how CPR is done have a higher chance of saving the lives of individuals when the situation would demand it.
The growing number of deaths resulting from SCA has called for institutions to provide CPR classes in order to impart that valuable life-saving knowledge to the average American. These classes are being offered in various parts of the US and can be availed of by anyone. As long as you have the time to learn, then these classes are ideal for you.
If your job requires you to work closely with other people, you might just need these special first-aid skills. Some jobs that require substantial CPR skills are being a babysitter, lifeguard, nurse and health care provider. Learning these skills will also be a plus factor for any other job. Having a certification that you have successfully completed CPR classes will surely make you an invaluable asset to any company.
Aside from chest compressions and cardiopulmonary resuscitation, other skills that you may consider worthy of knowing is defibrillation and how to administer mild therapeutic hypothermia.
Indeed, you may always call 911 during emergencies. But try to consider this, how will you know when and where it will happen, to ensure that you are just close to the nearest 911 station? There is none. Sudden cardiac arrest can happen anytime and anywhere. Equipping yourself with the right CPR skills can surely help save a life.
