SCA, or Sudden cardiac Arrest, has been a bane to people all over the world. Striking with very little warning, SCA is not that choosy when it comes to the profile of the victim. While many people see SCA and heart attack as one and the same, that is not actually the case. In an SCA situation, the person’s heart suffers from irregular beating patterns. The irregularity in the pattern keeps the heart from effectively pumping enough blood to all the major organs in the body by disrupting the electrical impulses which, in turn, causes the heart to abruptly stop. Now, without the oxygen from the blood, these major organs would start suffering from tissue necrosis. The death of the tissue of major organs, if left unattended, could lead to death. To date, 90% of people with SCA die. It is for this reason that most people who suffer from SCA need to have someone administer immediately what is known as the CPR.

CPR, as what most people are now aware of, stands for Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation. While it is not the end-all, be-all when it comes to saving someone from the throes of SCA, it is still a process that one can depend on when it comes to buying the patient some more time until medical professionals can attend to him or her. However, CPR is only as effective as the person doing it. Having said that, if you happen to be in  situation that calls for the application of CPR, you might want to keep a few things in mind.

Now, first thing’s first. If someone within your immediate vicinity collapses, what you need to do is tap him or her on his or her shoulders to check if they are okay. If you do not get any response from the victim, make sure you call 911. Once you have placed the call, that is the only time that you can start doing CPR. If there are people around you, you can also go straight to doing the CPR while having somebody else place the call to 911. Now, if a baby is involved, stroke the feet to elicit response. Under no circumstance should you shake the baby or hit him or her hard.

If you have not had any kind of CPR training, what you need to do is what is known as hands-only CPR. This means that you need to continuously apply chest compressions at a rate of 100 compressions per minute until  the paramedics arrive. This is also the case if you have had trainings in the past but have grown rusty over the years. On the other hand, if you have had training and have not forgotten about it, you can apply chest compressions along with rescue breathing. If there is an AED unit on hand, it is advisable to hook up the patient to the AED first before doing any CPR or rescue breathing. This is because the AED would be able to assess whether the patient still needs to undergo CPR or if electric shocks from the unit would suffice.

At the end of the day, it is still best if you keep yourself updated when it comes to CPR. Companies like Citywide CPR provide CPR certification programs that allow ordinary people to have the ability to save lives.

An ordinary person without a CPR training might find it hard to be of assistance should someone within his or her immediate vicinity suffer from cardiac arrest. It is because of this that scientists, researchers, and medical professionals have come up with the idea of the Automated External Defibrillator, or what most people know as the AED, a portable device designed to help people who are suffering from Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

As what most people know, Sudden Cardiac Arrest is one of the leading causes of death in most countries around the world. While it does not typically present any symptom before its onset, there have been cases of patients complaining of fatigue, chest pains, and fainting. In a Sudden Cardiac Arrest, what happens is the heart is unable to contract normally causing insufficient blood to flow to major body organs. Without the needed oxygen from the blood, the tissues begin to deteriorate causing tissue necrosis. Because of the suddenness, as the name implies, of this condition, as well as the gravity, it is important that the heart’s normal beating pattern be restored as soon as possible. This is where the AED comes in handy.

An AED has the ability to help restore the heart to its normal beating pattern with the use of electric shocks. Basically, all AEDs have the same features – voice prompt, accessories, While most AEDs have the same basic functions, there are still a number of things you need to keep in mind when it comes to buying one. For one, you need to make sure that the AED you would be purchasing is FDA approved. It is also recommended that you go for newer models as they tend to be more user friendly than earlier designs. Keep in mind that earlier designs were primarily meant for first responders while latter designs already have the general public in mind.

If you do not foresee yourself having to attend to grave situations, you can opt to skip on AEDs with escalating power designs. However, if you feel you are in a high-risk area, you might want to get a unit that allows for such. There is no need to worry about an AED damaging the victim’s heart as all AEDs do not have that high a power that could result to damage to the heart.

It is also a good idea to ensure that the AED you would be purchasing has a warranty. You have to remember that, when it comes to AEDs, most warranties last anywhere between 5 to 10 years. In some cases, you can also avail of additional warranty for the battery as well as for the accessories that comes with your unit.

To be sure that you know how to make use of your AED or what else you need to purchase in connection with it, get in touch with companies that offer AED oversight services. Companies like Citywide CPR might be able to help you when it comes to AED management. Aside from guiding you when it comes to which model to purchase, these companies can also help train you and the people around you on how to make the most of your unit.

Cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of mortality all over the world. In a sudden cardiac arrest, the patient’s heart is unable to pump enough blood to the whole body causing tissue necrosis. This, in turn, could lead to death of the person, which actually happens in majority of the cases. Although Sudden Cardiac Arrest happens instantaneously, there are still some warning signs that one can look out for. This would include shortness of breath, fatigue and general body weakness,  chest pains, and heart palpitations. Because of the gravity of this condition, a person who is suffering from Sudden Cardiac Arrest need to be attended to immediately. First responders as well as those within the immediate vicinity of the victim, fortunately, can depend on one portable device when it comes to jumpstarting the heart – the AED.

AED, or Automated External Defibrillator, is a portable and simple device that one can use in order to “re-start” the heart. It is a good thing to note, however, that the AED is not for everyone. It is only recommended for those suffering from cardiac arrhythmia of the ventricular fibrillation as well as ventricular tachycardia. With the use of an AED, electricity is applied indirectly to the heart in order to give it the chance to resume normal beating patterns. Now, in the case of patients who have already flatlined, there is a need first to apply CPR before defibrillators, like the AED, can be applied.

AEDs usually come with electrodes or pads, a digital console, and a wire that connects the pads to the console. Because of its portability as well as the simplicity of its design, the AED is always thought of as something that can be operated easily. In truth, you have to keep a few things in mind while operating it. For example, if the victim is wearing bras with metal underwire or has any kind of metal piercing in the torso area, these would have to be removed first. The victim would also have to lie on a flat surface away from any body if liquid. As much as possible, there should be no one else touching the victim to prevent any untoward incident.

Upon turning the device on, the first thing that you would be asked to do is to open the victim’s clothing so that his or her chest is exposed. You also have to make sure that the chest area is dry. If the victim is wearing metal necklace or has a bra with an underwire, you would need to take these off. Once done, place the right pad above the right nipple and the other pad on the below the left nipple on the leftmost side of the rib cage. If the victim has hair chests, you might need to shave the concerned area first. In most cases, the AED comes with a kit for situations like this. Make sure that the pads have good skin contact. The AED would most probably flash a “check electrode” message if the pads do not have sufficient skin contact. The machine would then start to analyze the situation of the victim and would provide instructions on what needs to be done next. If there is a need for a shock, the machine would then ask you to push a specific button.

If you would like to learn more about AED, Citywide CPR would definitely a big help. You can also seek their services when it comes to securing a CPR certification.

More or less half of the annual 350,000 deaths due to heart disease take place in an unexpected time, place, and scenario. This makes the conclusion that heart diseases could suddenly attack and take the life of anyone suffering from it, regardless of his overall physical health and the severity or mildness of the recognized symptoms. In other words, even though you are diagnosed to be free from a heart disease, you can still be considered a candidate for a deadly heart condition. This is reality: things change and anyone may suddenly stop breathing or his heartbeat suddenly ceases due to some underlying factors.

Wait. There’s Still Hope!

Before you get totally threatened by the previous statement, you have to remember that there are still some things you can do to significantly reduce the probability of such unwanted event. All you have to do is to make a life-turning decision – to go for healthy living. One of the most common factors that trigger fatal attacks of a heart disease is the accumulated fat in various parts of the body, including the internal of blood vessels. This is usually a problem for people living a sedentary lifestyle; they are usually lazy enough move their joints and exert effort and that’s their fat deposits don’t get burn or get flushed out of the body. Meanwhile, those who love to eat excessive amount of fatty, oily, and sweet foods are likely to accumulate so much fat within their various body parts as well.

Self-Control and Perseverance: Key to a Great Change

Yes, it’s never easy to turn into a new lifestyle; it’s not an overnight change. The important thing is, you take the decision to make that change and be committed to stand for it. You have to be realistic of it so you can make sure that you would be able to pursue whatever it takes to achieve a healthier life. It may not guarantee you a disease-free life, but what matters most is that you do something, not just as a preventive measure, but also as preparation just in case you still get caught by a deadly heart disease. In addition, it is also very important to keep optimism within yourself and you have to learn to see things in a different perspective. This could help you sustain self-control and perseverance as you transition into your new, healthier lifestyle.

Monitor Your Vital Signs and Keep Records of It

It is also important that you take time to know your blood pressure, heart rate, and other vital signs from time to time. If possible, invest for home medical devices and ask someone to learn to use it for you. Of course, it is advisable to consult a physician right away once you have identified anything unusual about your vital signs or in case you feel some unexplainable symptoms.

If you happen to have a family member or friend with a life-threatening heart disease, one of the best things you can do for him is to undergo CPR training so you could be his lifesaver. Check out Citywide’s wide range of CPR training right now!

Are you sick and tired of buying a new AED again and again? Then this time, you better be cautious enough when choosing the AED model to purchase. Remember that there are several parameters to be considered, and that you should not be blinded by the product’s fancy features or cheap price. If you really want to make the most of your money for your new AED, it’s best to take note first of your considerations and make a plan about it. This calls for a thorough research – thanks to the power of the Internet.

Take time to check out different online stores that feature an array of automated external defibrillators manufacturers and models. Here are some simple things you need to look for in an ideal AED:

• Accuracy – it’s very important that the AED is able to come up with fast results at utmost precision and accuracy. Most of the high-end models today are generally more accurate than the simpler and cheaper ones. Still, there are other planning steps to take before basing your decision to this parameter.
• Versatility – it is also ideal to buy an AED that has multiple functions, but relevant for the specific heart disease of the person this device is intended for. Many modern AEDs have included ECGs that are able to check the vital signs of the heart and detect any irregularities with it.
• Portability – ideally, AEDs must come in a compact, lightweight packaging so that users could easily grab it whenever the emergency situation calls. Most portable AED models are also easy to mount in a protective casing and they don’t consume too much space.
• Operability – users without enough knowledge on the technicalities involved in the operation of an AED are advised to choose one that is easy and safe to operate for first-timers. Most of these are labeled and promoted as user-friendly.
• Safety – this is another important factor that you should never disregard. Make sure that the AED model you consider provides enough protection against electrical hazards. It’s also a good idea to choose an AED brand that has high IP rating and quality user prompts.
• Automation – this is an optional factor. You may prefer an AED model with several automatic functions if you don’t want to be bothered by your lack of knowledge on using this medical device. However, AEDs like these are mostly way more expensive than the simpler ones.

For a quick reference, the following are the pricing of some of the top AED brands in one of today’s online stores:

• Physio-Control LIFEPAK 1000 AED ($2945)
• Zoll AED Pro ($2595)
• Cardiac Science Powerheart G3 Pro AED ($2295)
• Physio Control LIFEPAK CR Plus AED ($1795)
• ZOLL AED Plus ($1649)
• Phillips Heartstart FRx AED ($1700)
• Cardiac Science Powerheart G3 Plus AED ($1595)
• Philips Heartstart Onsite AED ($1313)
• Heartsine Samaritan PAD AED ($1295)
• Defibtech Lifeline AED ($1245)

See more valuable information as well as about AED Program Management and AED Medical Oversight at citywidecpr.com. You can also go for Citywide’s AED Program Management and AED Medical Oversight training courses if you want to learn more about AEDs.

Although it is not really required, it would be a big plus when you decide to learn some of the technicalities involved in operating an AED (automated external defibrillator). This is especially important if one of your loved ones suffers from a life-threatening heart disease and that in any point of time, your effective use of AED would be extremely needed to save his life. Other than that, knowing the technical details could also help you preserve the life of your device and so you could avoid accidents involving it.

Among the first technical things you need to learn about AEDs are the common terms used with it. One of these is the term ‘biphasic waveform’, which basically refers to the type of modulated electric signal used to decrease the magnitude of the required electric shock in the process. Through this, you could prevent or reduce risks of accidental burns, myocardial damage, and other unwanted results due to excessive electric energy delivered to the patient’s chest. Another important word to take note of is ‘escalating energy’. This term simply describes the type of delivery of electric shock where each successive shock is released with higher energy rating. One purpose for this is to prepare the heart for the certain amount of electrical joules to be delivered from the AED.

The next thing you should learn about is the electrocardiogram or ECG, which is a test that is used to detect and analyze the heart rhythm and heartbeat rating in order to determine whether there is any conduction abnormality of any symptoms of a heart disease. You should also understand and observe the device’s IP Rating, which stands for Ingress Protection Rating. This parameter indicates the level of protection designed to the device against ingress of or contact with any form of liquid or any foreign object. It falls into two types: the Liquid Ingress Protection and the Solid Ingress Protection. If you want an AED model that has maximum protection against various foreign materials, it’s best to choose one with Level 8 Liquid IP and Level 6 Solid IP Ratings.

Furthermore, it is also of great help to get familiar with the various prompts used in an AED. Simpler AED models make use of basic LED indicators while many of the high-end ones include text display screens and sometimes, video-enabled screens. Apart from that, you should also know about the device’s Pediatric Capability, which is a special feature that when turned on by some means, makes the device safe to use on children. In addition, you should also look for the device’s MAP and MSRP, which stand for Minimum Advertised Price and Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price, respectively.

If you are planning to put up an AED system in your community it would be best to take first the AED Program Management and AED Medical Oversight training courses offered at Citywide CPR. Just take time to check more details about AED Program Management and AED Medical Oversight as well as many other Citywide’s emergency medical services training programs at its official website.

Included to the important things you can learn when you take an advanced training course for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is how to save the life of a drowning person. Remember that although you are knowledgeable enough on the proper execution of CPR, you can never apply it effectively while the victim – conscious or not – is submerged or floating in the water. In other words, you also need to learn how to become a good swimmer if you want to become an effective and responsible lifesaver for your community.

There are other things you need to learn about saving a drowning person, aside from swimming. One of these is the proper assistance you apply immediately upon approaching the victim. To start with, you need to bring the victim’s nose and mouth over the water surface. The problem is that if the victim is still conscious, he will tend to move randomly and may cling to the rescuer so that he could be pulled out of the water. If you are not prepared for this situation, you might also get submerged in the water with the victim and thus both of you could eventually get drowned. To avoid this, it would be safer for a rescuer to bring a floatation device or any buoyant object. You could also choose to restrict the victim’s movement by twisting his arm on the back as you pull him out of the water.

Once you have reached the edge of the water, choose a flat surface that is safe enough for both you and the patient when you proceed to the next rescue process. This means that you have to make sure that there is no any pointed or sharp object within the intended surface; there are no any moving vehicle or any dangerous mechanical equipment operating near your actual location; and there is no open wirings or electrically conductive object that could cause electric shock for both of you, knowing that you are wet. It also follows that an automated external defibrillator (AED) may not be applicable because it comes with certain electrical hazards as well.

It is very important to provide as much space as possible around the victim to give way for the CPR you are going to apply to recover his normal breathing and heartbeat. Take note that most cases of drowning lead to cardiac arrest as a result of insufficient oxygen delivered to the heart that when malfunctions, would start death of the body organs, including the brain. At the same time, you should also consider the gender and age of the victim before you apply CPR. This is to determine the appropriate level of force and depth of chest compressions to be given to the victim. Besides, you should also be aware that the victim might have suffered from spinal injury due to drowning.

Go for Citywide CPR’s excellent CPR training programs to learn more of these important life-saving guidelines. Just visit their official website to see the list of CPR training options they offer for everyone.

As a means of preventing risks or worsening of certain heart disease, sufferers and their loved ones are encouraged to get themselves educated with how the human heart basically functions. This would help them determine the essential nutrients to be observed when choosing foods for the heart and it would also enable them observe proper movements or exercises intended to achieve a healthier heart.

The heart is one of the most important organs in the human body because it holds the key function to the circulation of blood throughout the body. It is part of the circulatory system, alongside the blood vessels that connect the heart to various organs in the body such as lungs, brain, and stomach. The three main types of blood vessels are the arteries, veins, and capillaries; the arteries are those that carry oxygenated blood to the heart, the veins transport the blood from the heart to other organs of the body, and the capillaries basically serve as connective vessels in smaller organs. All these blood vessels are essential in both pulmonary and systematic circulation processes in the human body. Other than oxygen, hormones are also transported with the blood in order to promote body development and help in other processes involving the rest of the organs. This explains why the heart consequently malfunctions once there is something wrong with the blood vessels.

Meanwhile, the heart is a hollow muscular organ that pumps and propels blood to and from the other organs of the body. Its pumps are normally performed at a beat that ranges from 60 to 100 times every minute. With its complex structure, the heart has the ability to determine which of which must the blood be transported to. It is also capable of adjusting its performance based on the body’s activities. For example: when you sleep, your heart adjusts and slows down its beating; but when you are in an intense motion such as running, your heart will keep up and beat faster. That’s why it is very important for each person to be aware of his own heart’s status in whatever he does; especially does that involve fast heartbeat.

Inside the muscular walls of the heart are four chambers, namely the right atrium, the left atrium, the right ventricle, and the left ventricle. The atria are divided by the interatrial septum, while the ventricles are interventricular septum. The triscupid and mitral valves (collectively known as atrioventricular valves), on the other hand, separate the atria from the ventricles and the two other valves, the pulmonary and aortic valves are those that make division among the pulmonary section of the circulatory system. These walls must be kept healthy as well in order to sustain optimum performance of the heart.

After knowing enough about the human heart and the rest of the circulatory system, it is also of great help to know a thing or two about proper execution of the life-saving aid known as cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR. Citywide CPR offers excellent CPR training programs. Check out their official website to get to know more of the CPT training options they offer.

For employers, there are several disadvantages of having employees that are suffering from certain heart disease. Just imagine this: when someone gets caught by heart attack, his co-workers are likely to stop whatever they are doing to attend the sufferer and do the necessary actions. In other words, not only the heart disease sufferer fails to do his job properly; the performance of people around him could also be affected in one way or another. Plus, there is a possibility that the company would be liable for financial expenses when a heart-disease-sufferer employee is at work when the emergency calls.

One solution for companies to avoid such problems is to choose only potential employees that are certified healthy, especially in terms of cardiorespiratory health. The problem with that is when the employee’s heart disease is developed while at work or because of the nature or job and the work environment. This comes to the need of regular health checkup and other preventive health maintenance steps for each employee in the company. It is also best to keep the work environment as health-friendly and safe as possible. Employers could strictly impose safety rules and other health-related standards as a means of preventing development of heart disease and any other unwanted medical conditions among the employees.

Furthermore, the American Heart Association or AHA has been promoting the need of having automated external defibrillators (AEDs) readily available for everyone within the workplace premises. This is one way to help any immediate responder do utmost action to save the life of a person who gets caught by sudden cardiac arrest, heart attack, or any other between-life-and-death heart conditions. Basically, an AED is used to deliver pulses of electric energy to the patient’s heart in order to revive its normal beat and so it could resume to its normal operation. This medical device was engineered to be able to automatically identify the necessary magnitude of electric pulses to be applied as well as the proper timing needed for maximum success rate of operation.

It is very important to mount the AED in an accessible and noticeable place. Proper labels must be provided, including the most important instructions and reminders for first-time users. At the same, you have to make sure that the AEDs are mounted securely that it would not be accidentally dropped or unintentionally powered on – this could lead to some accidents. It is also ideal to keep out of reach of children and animals to avoid mishandling of the device. In addition, AEDs must be monitored and maintained regularly to ensure that these would work properly anytime someone needs it. Employers could assign someone knowledgeable enough to handle the maintenance of the AED and train his co-workers on proper use of it and other important details.

If you want a deeper understanding of proper use and provision of AEDs in a company, it would be best for you to go for AED Program Management and AED Medical Oversight training courses. Citywide is one of today’s most well-established and recognized training centers for AED Program Management and AED Medical Oversight as well as other emergency medical services.

It’s quite funny that electric shock – an unwanted action that many people fear of – has become an essential method of various medical treatments nowadays. Remember that when a person gets electric shocked, he is likely to get surprised that his instinct is to immediately let go of the particular electrically energized conductive material. In serious cases, getting electrically shocked could cause burns to the contacted skin surface or much worse, could lead to death through instances like ventricular fibrillation and neurological effects. On the other hand, it now turns out that anyone could be in need of certain amount of electric shock in order to sustain life or get away from a certain medical condition.

Here are some of the common medical uses of electric shock today:

• Electrosurgical Unit (ESU) – this is an electronic surgical tool that makes use of high currents that are amplitude-modulated at high frequency in order to cut or coagulate (or both) to achieve the desired result of the surgery.
• Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator (TENS) – this is simply a method of applying electric shock as pain reliever for a variety of medical conditions.
• Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) – this is a psychiatric therapy basically intended to induce an annexation of therapeutic effect for treatment of mental illness. With the use of anesthesia, the patient could not sense the electric shock applied for 8 to 12 treatments at a typical frequency of 3 times a week.
• Iontophoresis – this is an electronic medical device that is primarily used for treatment of the condition called Hyperhidrosis.
• Automated External Defibrillator (AED) – this medical equipment is essentially intended to automatically deliver the most appropriate magnitude of electric shock to the patient’s heart at a determined proper timing. The electric shock is used to defibrillate the malfunctioning heart of the patient due to a disturbance in its electrical rhythm.

Among the said medical devices that emit electric shock, AEDs are perhaps the most commonly used today. This is mainly based on the fact that the American Heart Association (AHA) is now encouraging various groups and communities to acquire and prepare a public AED that anyone could immediately use in case of emergency. Also, there has been a significant increase in death and severe cases of various heart diseases that could have been prevented if someone was able to make use of an AED as a lifesaving device.

Just like the ESU, TENS, ECT, and other electronic medical devices; AEDs must be used and handled responsibly in order to prevent unwanted results such as accidental burns, inappropriate electric shocks, or any other erroneous results. Make sure you read and understand the device’s user manual before operating it. If you want to know more about proper use of AED and how to set up an effective AED program management and AED medical oversight, simply check out citywidecpr.com. Citywide CPR is a reputable training center for a myriad of emergency medical services including the application of CPR and AED for people who get caught by life-threatening heart diseases. Go for Citywide’s AED program management and AED medical oversight training courses now!