Training That Can Make a Difference in True Times of Need

Nothing stirs up a panic quite like the sight of someone going into cardiac arrest. The clutching of the chest is always a tell-tale sign of the pain that is uniquely associated with the heart attack, and it is then followed by the prevalence of short breaths and a near immediate fade into unconsciousness. Witnessing a heart attack up close and personal is decidedly unpleasant, but it is also important for bystanders to remember that their assistance is never more important that in the moments immediately following a heart attack. In these instances of urgency, a person with CPR training can help immensely.

Unfortunate as it may be, heart disease is eminently more common now than in the years before. With more and more individuals giving into the allures of an unhealthy diet and a sedentary lifestyle, it truly has become easier to become unhealthy. The widespread nature of unhealthiness only serves to lend more importance to the attainment of CPR training. It is important for people to remember that heart attacks are always unpredictable. That means that they can strike without medical professionals, and that as much as anything is the reason for why heart attacks rate as such highly efficient killers. People need to contact paramedics as quickly as they can in these situations, and in the meantime, they will also need to address the now collapsed victim. CPR training ensures that individuals can act properly in these most unfortunate of situations.

CPR is an acronym that means cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and as the name suggests, it is all about providing a needed form of assistance to the heart. This procedure is designed to help maintain the flow of oxygenated blood within the body. The reason for why maintaining a steady stream of oxygenated blood is so important is because without it, the brain itself would slowly shut down. A brain that has shut down should only be present in bodies that are no longer alive. CPR training seeks to provide people with the knowledge that they can then use to aid in the artificial distribution of oxygenated blood. CPR by itself may be incapable of actually saving a person from the brink of death, but at the very least, it can allow them to hang on until they are taken to the hospital.

CPR training is valuable because it allows people to know the steps that are involved in the very procedure. The initial step of CPR is to determine whether or not it is needed in the first place. By identifying the breathing pattern, people can know immediately if they should proceed with the other steps of CPR. Once the identification process is done, individuals can then begin pushing down on the chest. This needs to be done for about 30 times. After that, the chest must also be pumped at a rate no lower rate than 100 per minute. The final step involves breathing into the cardiac arrest victim. This must be done up until the chest begins to expand.

Providing a Lease on Life for those in the Midst of a Heart Attack

The human body is nothing short of being truly remarkable. Its muscular and skeletal composition gives its strength while its many organs also excel at their own specific functions. What makes the body so special is the fact that despite all of these parts having varying purposes, the body itself is still capable of running at a very high level. The perfect balance of all those functions in fact is what allows the body to be the truly remarkable specimen that it is. If any one of those parts ever starts functioning improperly, the entire body itself may suffer, and that is what devices such as the AED aim to address.

The AED is far from being the most familiar or recognizable medical instrument. The appearance of that acronym may not even seem vaguely familiar to a lot of people. The reality however, is that this device has been singularly responsible for saving so many people’s lives. This is because the automated external defibrillator has two very specific functions that are designed to truly help the body out of some very dire situations. Its first function is to identify the rhythm of the heart. Heart attacks are largely unpredictable but being able to identify an irregular rhythm is essential to at least anticipating the heart attack. That irregular rhythm may very well be the precursor to cardiac arrest so knowing about it early on will allow an individual to act accordingly.

The other function of the AED is to provide a dose of electrical current to the heart. Heart attacks take place when something goes wrong with the organ’s electrical wiring. When this electrical system is disrupted for any reason, the heart itself may stop and that is why the shock is so important. Administering it alone may bring a person back from the brink of death. All it takes to save a person sometimes is a needed boost of electricity and that is what makes the AED so important. It is also very important to know that each and every second is precious during a heart attack, and that means that the sooner care can be administered the better.

Understanding how important every moment is in a heart attack, the designers of the AED were also mindful of imbuing with two qualities that would allow for it to be easily deployed. The first quality is portability. This device is portable enough that it can be taken almost anywhere. It is a common sight to see at crowded events such as concerts and at sporting events. The fact that it is portable just means that it is capable of providing its functions right when it is needed. The device has also been designed to be very user-friendly. It provides audio and visual prompts for the user to heed. By simply following these instructions, even an individual without formal training with the device can use it capably. This combination of useful functions and convenient qualities really makes this device one of the most important ones in the medical field.

Citywide CPR is one of the few organizations that can help you when it comes to AED program management. They also offer CPR training and certification for individual clients.

A Device Designed to Keep the Heart Safe

Humanity has been responsible for the creation of some extraordinary inventions. The TV for instance, never gets its due for being the remarkable object that it is. Its ability to display images in such stunning quality is often taken for granted, and yet without it, people would struggle to find worthwhile sources of entertainment. The computer is yet another remarkable creation of the human. This super-charged device is the tool of choice for furthering present projects, and it figures quite prominently into determining what type of future is in store for humanity. As revolutionary and remarkable as these devices may be, they still lack the lifesaving quality found in certain pieces of medical equipment. From the respirator to the dialysis machine, these objects have helped to prolong people’s lives, and it is tough to argue that there are any items more valuable than these. The great thing about medical technology is that it is constantly evolving, and all the while it has produced quite the array of useful medical items. One such item is known simply by its initials, and yet its value can never be truly appreciated.

The AED may be one of the lesser known pieces of equipment in the medical world, but it is still one of the most important. Those initials actually serve as an abbreviation for the term automated external defibrillator. The device itself has been designed with preserving its usefulness in mind. The evidence of this is the fact that the AED has been made to be very portable. It is very easy to carry around, and that means that it can travel along with emergency medical technicians who have been deployed to densely populated events. Being portable is one of the device’s selling points, but it is not the only one. It has also been made to be very easy to operate, meaning that even untrained individuals can use it effectively. To make up for that lack of medical knowledge, the device provides its users with audio and visual prompts that they can then use to operate it more effectively.

The AED possesses two very basic functions. The first function of the device is used for diagnostic purposes. It can be used to identify the type of rhythm that is found in a particular human body, and it will then say if whether or not that rhythm is as it should be. If the rhythm is irregular, then the second function of the device can be used.

The AED not only diagnoses potential problems with the heart, it also resolves them. Heart attacks usually occur when something goes wrong with the heart’s electrical system. This device resolves that problem by providing a significant shock to the heart that is substantial enough to get the rhythm back in order. The immediate application of that electrical shock can sometimes be all that stands between life and death. If it is not administered in time, then there is no telling whether or not the individual can survive. The AED aims to ensure that no heart attack will go untreated.

In order to have a proper AED program in place, you might need the services of someone knowledgeable. One of the organizations that you can ask help from is Citywide CPR.

Protecting the Human Heart with the Help of a Handy Tool

Built into the human body itself are objects that exist solely for the purposes of protection. Surrounding the brain is a tough and very durable encasement made of bone known as the skull. Along the front of the chest is the rib cage and it helps to protect the eminently fragile lungs. There are also bones in place that protect the spinal cord. Beyond these bones, the human body is also outfitted with an immune system that helps protect it from invading foreign bodies. The immune system probably stands as the biggest reason for why people do not get sick all that often. Even with all these agents of protection present inside the body, the internal organs can still sustain damage. The heart in particular is very prone to being harmed, and that has necessitated the creation of certain devices designed to protect it from being irretrievably damaged. Most of these devices are very familiar to people, but one of them may not be immediately recognizable despite the fact that it too has saved numerous lives.

The AED or automated external defibrillator is actually one of the most widely-used pieces of medical equipment. Despite its notable lack of fame, this device has been very instrumental to saving people’s lives and it still stands as one of the most valuable pieces of medical equipment. The AED actually possesses certain characteristics that make it quite the outstanding medical device. Its portable nature for one, makes it a particularly valuable medical tool. That portable quality allows it to be taken just about anywhere and that means that even the people in need of its services in remote regions can be helped. Another very useful feature of the item is the fact that it actually provides prompts for the people who operate it. Since it is most likely to be used in emergency situations, the odds say that there will not always be medical professionals around to handle it. The prompts it provides ensures that in a fix, even inexperienced individuals can use it.

The AED has two very simple functions. The first function of the automated external defibrillator is devoted to diagnosing possible heart problems in people. More specifically, the device aims to identify possible problems by checking the rhythm of the heart. If an irregular rhythm is spotted, then the device can be deployed as a correcting tool.

Irregular heart rhythms are obviously problematic, and they indicate that there may be a possible problem with the heart’s electrical wiring. This can be a real problem, and it is the reason why the AED is so helpful. The AED is fully capable of administering a significant shock to the body, enough that it can even restore to the rhythm of the heart to where it should be. The device basically allows care to be provided even when the stricken individual is not at the hospital, and since heart attacks can be very fatal, very quickly, the presence of the device is obviously very valuable.

If you are planning to have an AED program in place, Citywide CPR is one of the many institutions that can help you find your way around. The company also offers CPR training and certification for all levels.

Taking Care of the Heart with an Example of Medical Innovation

The human heart is a remarkably resilient part of the body. It works through all hours of the day, through all days of the year up until a person finally gives into the bounds of mortality. Over the course of a lifetime, the heart remains the one constant, beating up until the bitter end. Unfortunately for some people, the heart will actually experience a few technical difficulties way before the rest of the body is due to break down. Whether as a result of abuse or just negligence, the heart may begin to deteriorate quicker than the rest of the body, and that does not translate to a very long and comfortable life. This is the reason why medical professionals have been so intent on finding ways to preserve and maintain the strength of the heart. The endeavor has been very fruitful so far, resulting in a number of medical innovations. It is the reason for why the automated external defibrillator has been made into reality.

The device more commonly known as the AED has been one of the more widely-used pieces of medical equipment. The reason behind its wide usage is the fact that it is one of the few examples of medical equipment that can actually be taken out onto the field. This is because the AED has been designed to be very compact. It is in fact, remarkably compact, to the point that medical professionals can take it to almost any remote location, ready to act at a moment’s notice. The compact characteristic of the device allows it to be taken into any venue and this is one of its main selling points. Aside from that compact characteristic, this device has also been designed to be very accessible. It is accessible in the sense that almost anyone can use it, even people without any medical knowledge. In order to make up for an individual’s lack of medical knowledge, the device provides audio and visual commands that guide the user to the right course of action.

The characteristics of the AED already make it an effective piece of equipment, but it would still be useless without good functions. There are actually two functions in this case, and they both serve to help with any potential problems that may arise with the heart. The first function of the automated external defibrillator is all about diagnosing the actual heart. The device checks the heart’s current rhythm and it helps people determine whether or not it is working exactly as it should. The data the AED provides is very valuable, especially since identifying any irregular rhythm may help prevent a future heart attack.

The second function of the AED is decidedly more direct. It can provide a small jolt of electricity to the heart, effectively setting the rhythm of the heart right back to where it should be. This function is used in the event of a heart attack, and it can help save people even when they are not at the hospital.

Citywide CPR is one of the few institutions that can offer you not only CPR training and certification programs as well as AED program management services.

One of Mankind’s Most Important Medical Inventions

Mankind has been responsible for the creation of some very remarkable devices. It should never be forgotten that humans have created the space shuttle, the refrigerator, and even the computer. All these inventions have helped to shape the future of humanity for the better, and yet it is tough to label any of them as being the most significant inventions even up to now. In order to find the most remarkable innovations, people need to turn their attention to the medical field. Countless innovations have been made in this field, and each one has arguably been as important as the next. Lives have been saved by medical innovations, and one piece of medical equipment in particular has been very helpful. The automated external defibrillator has helped improve the safety of people all over the world, and it truly stands as one of the most important inventions in the history of man.

The automated external defibrillator has an admittedly unfamiliar name, and even when condensed down to its acronym, people may still struggle to identify this particular piece of equipment. Despite the notable lack of fame however, the AED still remains as one of the most significant pieces of medical equipment that can be found either in the hospital setting or just out in the field. The fact that it can indeed be readily used by medical professionals while out on the field is one of the main reasons for the device’s popularity. It has been designed to be very compact, and that size allows it to be taken for just about any occasion. It is a common fixture at crowded events where risk for cardiac arrests may be low but still present. Being compact just makes it easier for medical professionals to deploy the device once it is actually needed. Another notable feature of the AED is the fact that it is very easy to use, even for people without any formal medical training. The device actually provides people with audio and visual prompts to make sure that it can be used in the correct manner.

The automated external defibrillator serves a few very important functions. The first function of the device is as a diagnostic tool. More specifically, the AED checks up on the person’s heart rhythm. Any unusual variance in the rhythm of the heart is a cause for concern and this piece of equipment can help determine if such a situation is indeed in play. It works almost as a preventative tool in this sense. Instead of waiting on an unfortunate incident to be useful, the AED can identify a potential problem before it even begins to affect people.

The second function of the AED is to administer an electrical shock to the heart. The heart can have literal electrical trouble at times, and this device is as effective of a solution to that problem as any. With the little shock that this item provides, it can restore the rhythm of the heart to its proper timing, eliminating any threat to an individual’s life.

One of the many ways you can have a good AED program management in place is to get the services of Citywide CPR.

The Man-made Marvel that Can Help Save Lives

People looking for the embodiment of a perfectly-designed machine need to look no further than their own mirrors. Staring right back at them is a machine whose every part has been configured carefully. It is a machine filled with parts that fulfill very specific functions, and the improper operation of even one can disrupt the harmony of the entirety. This highly delicate nature of the body and its parts makes it even more susceptible to long-term damage. That reality should also prompt people to take better care of themselves, in order to ensure that the magnificent machine they have been bestowed with does not get destroyed well before its time. Instances of disaster are inevitable however, and people need to act quickly just to make sure that the damage is not too severe. For these few moments that require immediate and intensive medical attention, the presence of an automated external defibrillator is very important.

This highly important device may not be as familiar as some of the others that medical professionals wield on a daily basis, but it is very important nonetheless. It has been designed with practicality in mind so the designers of the device were very careful to make sure that it could still be termed as portable. Portability is essential in this case because the device needs to be carried just about everywhere. It is routinely found at places where crowds gather to ensure that emergency medical care can be provided as soon as possible. Aside from being portable, the AED has also been designed to be very user-friendly. Since cardiac arrests are bound to happen when no medical professionals are readily available, the item itself is the one that instructs would-be resuscitators on how to properly administer emergency care.

The automated external defibrillator actually has two functions. First off, it can serve as a diagnostic tool. This portable and easy-to-use item is concerned with the rhythm of an individual’s heart and it can be used to determine whether or not said rhythm is regular or otherwise. In this capacity, the AED acts almost like a preventative measure, spotting a potential problem before it can manifest into something more troubling and fatal. The more well-known use of the device however, is to act as the first form of treatment for when a sudden heart attack strikes.

The heart may not exactly be deemed as an electronic device, but it does indeed employ an electrical system that allows it to work properly. The system works to keep the rhythm of the heart right where it should be, and that means that if it begins to malfunction in any way, then the body itself can be in for serious trouble. This is where the automated external defibrillator comes in. This device possesses the ability to provide a little jolt of electricity that is enough to fix the irregularities in the heart’s rhythm. That little jolt can become the difference between life and death, making this one of the most important devices to have nearby during life’s most crucial moments.

You can get the help of Citywide CPR when it comes to coming up with setting up an AED program.

The Lifesaving Functions of a Highly Valuable Medical Invention

The human body is a remarkably complex, yet eminently fragile organism. For all the protection systems found embedded within the structure of the body, it is still very fallible, even frail in certain respects. No single part of the body demonstrates this dichotomy quite like the heart. It is the body part tasked with such important duties. It is the one organ of the body capable of carrying out the task of pumping blood. The removal of the heart and its functions will render the body lifeless, and it is why people so fervently take care of theirs. Unfortunately, people can still get caught off guard by a sudden cardiac arrest. These rare instances have brought about the invention of the automated external defibrillator.

People may be largely unfamiliar with this device given its name, but anyone who has ever seen a medical-themed TV show or movie has probably had a look at it. The dimensions of the device itself are quite diminutive. This has been done on purpose and it is to allow the device to be taken anywhere. Seeing as how cardiac arrests rarely happen when they are actually expected, the ubiquitous presence of this device is very welcome, particularly in areas where crowds usually gather. The device is also very easy to operate. It has been designed in this manner so that even people without any form of medical training can use it. This makes it the ideal accompaniment to a good dose of CPR training. Hundreds and maybe even thousands of lives every year can be saved just by the widespread prevalence of this device. The portable and easily operable characteristics of the AED only elevate its importance within the landscape of an increasingly heart-troubled society.

An automated external defibrillator actually has two different functions. The first function of the device is to check on a person’s heart rhythm. Given how many people are diagnosed with heart maladies all over the world, this purpose of the device is indeed very necessary. With one use of this function, a person currently experiencing chest pains can be diagnosed immediately. It also works as a preventative tool, effectively stopping the heart attack before it can strike. The other function of the device is to actually treat the cardiac arrest when it does strike.

It may not seem to be the case upon first look, but the heart actually possesses an electrical system that allows it to regulate the rate at which it beats. This system has been finely tuned and any alteration of it, one way or the other, could cause potentially major damage to the body. When that electrical system suddenly goes haywire, that is when the problems begin to emerge and it is also when the AED becomes very important. This device can send the needed electrical shocks that are essential to the heart being able to return to its normal rhythm. This little dose of electricity can very well save lives, and that makes the AED one of the most singularly important medical inventions.

If you are having concerns about how to set-up an AED program, you can always get in touch with Citywide CPR and get their help setting up an AED program management system in place.

The Proper Course of Action in Life’s Most Crucial Moments

Life can change in just a span of mere moments. Vigilance is important for these instances of urgency. When an accident takes place, people need to reach for their phones immediately and call out for help as quickly as possible. Failure to do so yet again in that scenario could wind up costing someone their shot at clinging on to life. It seems awful cruel for life to be so fragile that it can be lost within a matter of moments, but that is the reality of existence. It is a reality that cannot be changed, but it is still a reality that can be acted upon. When life hangs in the balance, every second counts and in those precious moments the act of CPR can truly save a life.

Heart disease has long been one of the leading killers the world over. Given the way people eat now, that does not figure to change any time soon. Fast food favorites are flavorful but they also pack quite the fat content. Those unfriendly inhabitants of the body can clog up arteries and be the reason for a heart attack. Along with the unhealthy diet, people are also getting less exercise these days. This unhealthy combination can lead easily to heart disease and the subsequent heart attack. This is the very reason for why CPR training is so essential. The odds of a heart attack taking place when there are no medical professionals readily available are all too great for certain people and having knowledge of CPR can be very useful in this scenario.

CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation is designed to keep the most important functions of the brain going. In those immediate instances following a heart attack when the blood begins to stagnate, CPR effectively gives the blood a little boost and sends enough of it to the vital parts of the body to keep it alive long enough to receive the necessary medical attention. CPR manages to send just enough oxygenated blood to the heart and brain so that it does not stop functioning altogether. The moments immediately following a heart attack are incredibly important and the administering of CPR may be the only hope a person has of staying alive.

CPR training basically involves learning to do a few simple things the right way. The first is the correct determination of the breathing pattern. By being able to correctly tell whether the breathing is labored or abnormal, a person can then quickly begin the process of providing CPR. The second thing people need to learn is how to pump the chest properly. It must be done rapidly to get the blood going preferably at a rate of about a 100 pumps per minute. The last thing people need to learn is how to properly breathe into the individual suffering from a heart attack. This involves lifting up the chin and then delivering a breath into the body strong enough to raise the chest. If the steps are done properly, then a life that seemed doomed to perish may still be salvaged.

One of the most reliable providers of CPR training and certification programs is Citywide CPR. Citywide also provides AED management program for those who would like to have such in place.

The Basics of Manual Resuscitation

At any time, unseen and unavoidable accidents can occur without warning. In these instances, knowing some basic first aid procedure can be a vital aspect in the chances of survival. A common and highly possible incident that will require immediate medical attention is sudden cardiac arrest. Recognizing this and knowing the correct reaction will make all the difference in the situation.

CPR training seminars are regularly held by health institutions for citizens to take part in. Words cannot describe how important knowing the proper application of the procedure is especially in the United States wherein sudden cardiac arrest is one of the main causes of death, claiming over 325,000 fatalities every year. The common knowledge about cardiac arrest is that it is a form of heart attack. This is in fact not true at all. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is defined as the unexpected changes in the rhythm of the heartbeat caused by interruptions in the electrical impulses which can then potentially result in the heart suddenly ceasing to function. Heart attack, on the other hand, is the result of a heart disease which over time slows the heart’s ability to accurately  pump blood to the body. One other major difference between the two is the fact that sudden cardiac arrest victims who were not attended to promptly only have a 5% chance of survival rate while heart attack victims have the capacity to completely recover overtime with proper medical support.

While varying in effectiveness, proper CPR training has one undeniable benefit – it can increase the chances of the patient surviving the ordeal. By aiding the circulation of oxygen and blood, the first aider will be able to hinder the shutting down of bodily function which could ultimately lead to death. The procedure actually has varying levels of intricacy depending on the person’s training and the available first aid tools on hand. For untrained or out of practice personnel, experts recommend applying the hands-only compression method at a steady rate of 100 pumps per minute. For a properly trained and experienced person, applying the complete procedure that includes artificial respiration will increase the effectiveness of the method. The best scenario however is having a defibrillator ready and juiced. What’s good about the current models of AEDs, or Automated External Defibrillators, is the fact that they can guide even the most novice of first aiders on what steps to follow.

A key note that is highly advised by most professionals when applying CPR is to not bother checking for the pulse of the victim. The main reason for this is that, for an untrained civilian, finding the pulse of a completely unresponsive person will waste valuable seconds. Hence, immediate application of first aid procedures must be applied. Know that every second wasted by not applying the procedure will profoundly decrease the patients chances of surviving the ordeal. Of course, while the administration of CPR can increase the chances of survival, responders should still make sure that there is someone who could get in touch with the paramedics in order to report the situation.

In order for someone to not be caught unaware is to enroll in a CPR training and certification program. In most cases, these programs also touch on the proper use of AED devices.