Learning CPR can save lives

National CPR & AED Awareness Week is June 1—7. During this time, we shine a spotlight on how lives can be saved if more Americans know CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

The American Heart Association Cedar Rapids was extremely grateful to receive a grant for the Bloomhall Family Fund to teach CPR in the Community. Fifteen community members have learned the lifesaving skill of Hands Only CPR and are going out into the community to teach the skills throughout the community. Our goal is to reach over 2,700 residents in efforts to help save more lives in the community. The local area has had two recent “life saves” because a bystander was there to perform CPR until the Paramedics arrived. If you are interested in attending one of our free Hands Only CPR trainings to learn the lifesaving skill, contact Heidi Hora at Heidi.hora@heart.org or 319-560-0800.

Only about 46 percent of people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest receive the immediate help that they need before professional help arrives. Women are also less likely to receive CPR from a bystander. Barriers include fear of legal ramifications and accusations of inappropriate touching.

Even more eye-opening is the fact that about 70 percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in homes. 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. CPR, especially if performed immediately, could double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.

Now more than ever learning CPR is so important. A few things to note:

• When a person has a cardiac arrest, the chance of survival goes down by 10 percent for every minute without CPR, so every second counts.

• Performing Hands-Only CPR on someone who has a cardiac arrest does not increase your risk of transmission of coronavirus.

• With the beginning of summer upon us, emergencies can happen. For families, it’s especially important to note that while Hands-Only CPR is an appropriate technique for adults, breaths are still important for infants and children.

Learning how to provide Hands-Only CPR involves just 2 easy steps: 1) Call 9-1-1 and 2) Push hard and fast in the center of the chest. You can go online to www.Heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR to watch a video demonstration and learn more.

The American Heart Association also offers CPR Anytime kits that can help teach the lifesaving skills of CPR, in case you are called on to save someone you know. Adult & Child CPR Anytime kits contain everything you need to learn the lifesaving skills of CPR, AED awareness, and choking relief in about 20 minutes in the comfort of your own home. The self-guided training takes you through the steps — all you need to do is practice.

The American Heart Association will hold a community CPR training at the Hiawatha Community Center on June 1 from 5-7pm.

Anyone interested can sign up for a 30 minute training online session. You also can learn more about CPR and where to find full CPR trainings near you at cpr.heart.org.

Heidi Hora is development director for the American Heart Association In Hiawatha.