CPR is one of the most vital life-saving techniques that can make a difference to someone in a medical emergency. Being certified in CPR translates into acting quickly and administering CPR properly in medically critical situations when a person’s heart ceases to beat or they no longer breathe.
As the second-largest city in Oklahoma, Tulsa is home to many communities. Some of these neighborhoods have contributed to a spike in SCA survival rates. This article discusses the importance of communities in Tulsa being CPR-ready and the nine reasons community members should seek CPR training.
9 Reasons Why Communities Should Know CPR
Death is pending when a person’s heart stops beating, or they are not breathing. Whether the person survives can be a matter of seconds, and administering CPR can significantly boost the survival odds.
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- CPR Saves Lives
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a medical condition affecting people of all ages and at any time and place. Time is of the essence, so they must be tended to immediately. The standard procedure used is CPR.
According to the latest findings, out-of-hospital SCA survival rates are rising, thanks to timely CPR administration. Some cardiologists believe that an SCA victim can fully recover and leave the hospital in good condition if given CPR by a bystander.
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- CPR Prevents Brain Death
In the event of a cardiac arrest, the heart will not pump blood, which means every vital organ is deprived of oxygenated blood. The SCA victim loses consciousness if the blood flow does not reach the brain.
If the brain is left without oxygen for a certain amount of time, there can be irreversible damage and even death. CPR helps blood reach all vital organs, thus minimizing the possibility of brain damage to the victim.
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- CPR-Ready Community Members Know How to Act During Cardiac Emergencies
Community members trained to give CPR fall into the category of nearly 37% of the cases when a bystander witnesses an SCA. CPR-trained people are knowledgeable and confident to take action in seconds. This category of laypeople is skilled and trained to remain calm.
With proper CPR skills, ordinary people can become extraordinary life-savers.
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- In an Emergency, Every Minute Can Make a Difference
Every medical emergency is serious, but time is vital to an optimal outcome when sudden cardiac arrest occurs. Victims struggling with cardiac arrest require instantaneous attention and help.
To an SCA victim, every minute their brain is left without blood and oxygen is detrimental. As the Chain of Survival explains, a blood-deprived brain will cease the function of other vital organs, such as the heart and lungs.
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- CPR Means Faster Recovery
When given CPR, an SCA victim’s chances of surviving the emergency rise. Additionally, they are expected to make a full recovery. Since CPR mimics a typical heartbeat, the chest compressions allow blood flow to reach the organs, thus preventing possible delays in the recovery process.
After receiving high-quality CPR, an SCA victim can return to daily routines with minimal side effects.
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- CPR Makes School Safer for Kids
For communities, CPR training is suitable for making elementary, secondary schools, and universities safer places in Tulsa. Recent research published by the National Center for Education Statistics reports that around 19 million students attended colleges and universities in the U.S.
Since anyone can suffer from an SCA, schools are one of the places where medical emergencies can happen. Most US states have made it mandatory for teachers and school staff to be certified in CPR, but in Oklahoma, teachers do not need to hold a CPR certificate for licensure.
The Oklahoma State Department of Education accepts online CPR certification for teachers. However, sports management, physical education, nutrition, or health courses may require additional provisions.
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- CPR Makes Work Safer
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, close to 10,000
cardiac arrests occur across workspaces in the U.S. To any business, safety in the workplace is of vital importance. With proper CPR training, communities in Tulsa can become prepared to act accordingly during sudden cardiac arrest and other emergencies like choking.
Employees trained in CPR and First Aid they become the first responders whose skills can contribute to a victim maintaining their vital signs until help arrives.
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- CPR Classes Include AED Training
Most reputable CPR training courses in Tulsa include guidelines on using an automated external defibrillator (AED). CPR and AED are links in the Chain of Survival that contribute to better outcomes. The more people know how to use an AED, the safer communities will be. Even without formal training in AED use, the device is still simple to use.
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- Anyone Can Learn How to Do CPR
One of the best things about CPR training classes is that they accommodate anyone. Medical professionals are no longer the only occupations that need to know how to give CPR. Although you do not always need formal CPR training to help someone during cardiac arrest, you need some education.
Thankfully, CPR classes are comprehensive enough for anyone to follow and understand. These classes usually last for a couple of hours, teaching the most important aspects of CPR, including identifying signs of cardiac arrest, placing a victim in a recovery position, and more.
In Conclusion: The Importance of Greater Efforts for Community CPR Training
The CPR technique helps keep a victim’s bloodstream oxygenized, maintaining the work of all vital organs during medical distress. Fast and constant chest compressions mirror a typical heartbeat, enabling blood flow. The procedure keeps an SCA victim alive until medical professionals arrive.
A devastating statistic shows that only 2.4% of Americans are trained in CPR. This information is even more pressingly important because SCA victims depend on bystanders’ quick response and CPR training.
If more people across the U.S. become aware of the life-saving importance of CPR, communities would be much safer places for everyone. On the other hand, there are many ways communities can become involved in raising CPR awareness. For instance, local fire departments across the U.S. offer free CPR classes, allowing community members to enroll and gain valuable knowledge.
FAQs
Isn’t CPR hard to do?
This is a common misconception about CPR. The technique is both simple to learn and not hard to do. A CPR training class teaches the resuscitation strategy in plain terms and with practical, hands-on examples.
Why is AED training included in a CPR course?
AEDs are an important part of the resuscitation process. Paired with high-quality CPR, AEDs increase the chances of survival for an SCA victim.
Why is it important for communities to learn CPR?
Learning how to perform CPR entails great importance regarding the survival odds of a cardiac arrest victim. Since anyone can experience such an emergency, the more people know how to do CPR, the greater the chances a victim will survive the out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and maintain vital functions until help arrives. CPR-trained community members are confident in acting promptly and effectively in a medical emergency.
How can my community raise CPR awareness?
Community members can be valuable in promoting CPR as a life-saving medical technique. There are many ways to raise CPR awareness in a community. For example, community leaders can organize meet-and-greet gatherings that include CPR training instructors. Also, community members can distribute leaflets and posters about the importance of CPR across schools, bars, coffee shops, and so on.
Can I get sued if I do CPR on someone in a public place?
Bystanders who perform CPR on a stranger are safeguarded by the Good Samaritan law, which excludes legal liability for the responder.