Become a “Nation of Lifesavers” in 90 Seconds- It Starts With You!
I will be the first to admit that my family has had heart related issues within it. High Cholesterol, high blood pressure, and even some less significant forms of heart disease, and even catastrophic heart attacks.
Did you know, according to the American Heart Association, 7 in 10 people in America say they feel powerless to act in the face of a cardiac emergency. As a result, less than half of all people who need this lifesaving skill receive CPR from bystanders before professional help arrives.
The American Heart Association is challenging everyone to join the Nation of Lifesavers and commit to make CPR and AED awareness and education a permanent fixture in all communities across the country.
According to the Association, more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States each year and 90% of those people will not survive. The Association, which is working to increase the number of bystanders who use CPR in an emergency, is the world’s leading voluntary organization dedicated to building healthier lives for all, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
The long-term goal of the multi-year initiative is to ensure that in the face of a cardiac emergency, anyone, anywhere is prepared and empowered to perform CPR and become a vital link in the chain of survival.
Hands-Only CPR is chest compression only CPR. Science has shown that following a witnessed cardiac arrest of a teen or an adult, compression-only CPR can be equally effective in the first few minutes of emergency response. If a teen or adult suddenly collapses, witnesses should immediately call emergency services and begin chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute and a depth of at least two inches. The Association encourages everyone, regardless of where they live, to take 90 seconds to learn how to save a life.
The process is easy, just like the beat to everyone's favorite Bee Gees tune "Staying Alive," which could LITERALLY help some people stay alive.