Saving a Life in the Span of Mere Moments

Life is not defined by the broad strokes of the human timeline. It is instead defined by the moment, and the content of each one is what constitutes the life being led. The way people act within a fleeting moment can make a lasting impact on the rest of their lives. People can claim triumph within a moment, just as they can obtain defeat within that same stretch of time. Within that same instance, even a life can be lost. It is important to take care of the moment, to act upon it when needed, and to respond to it accordingly. The passing moments are precious to the heart attack victim, and these moments call for people to have proper CPR training.

Heart disease is one of the leading killers of people all over the world. It is an indiscriminant disease, affecting people poor or rich, even old or young. Heart disease is merciless when it attacks, and it has already left behind a trail of bodies to rival even the bloodiest of crusades. An unfortunate byproduct of living in this modern age is that contracting heart disease is easier than ever. The overwhelming prevalence of unhealthy foods can tempt people to adopt the most harmful diets, and in the aftermath of this trend are more people with heart disease than ever before. Medical technology has come a long way and it has certainly helped quell some of the concerns people have with heart disease. But as always, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure that thought rings especially true for heart disease.

It bears repeating that heart disease is a near instantaneous killer. Within mere moments of striking, a heart disease can claim a life before any ambulance can even arrive. This gives an added emphasis to proper CPR training. CPR is applied so that the most important parts of the body can still be supplied with oxygenated blood even in the midst of a heart attack. The pumping mechanism involved in CPR is responsible for effectively restoring the flow of blood within the stricken body. Any flow of oxygenated blood is crucial within this stage, and that makes knowledge of CPR extraordinarily vital.

Learning how to properly apply CPR basically boils down to learning a few basic skills. The very first skill people need to learn for the purposes of CPR is breathing pattern identification. The breathing pattern is indicative of a person’s health, and labored breathing usually translates to heart trouble. Once the breathing pattern is properly identified, people can now move onto the pumping phase of CPR. The center of the chest must be pushed down by 2 inches for 30 times, and then people must follow with quick pumps settling at a rate of about a 100 per minute. When this has all been done, all that is left is to breath into the incapacitated individual. This must be carried up until the point that the chest cavity begins to fill with air and rises.

To be sure that you learn CPR properly, you can always undergo the CPR training and certification program being offered by Citywide CPR.

Save a Life with Simple Steps

Few things are as unpredictable as a heart attack. It emerges suddenly, with very little warning and before people even get the chance to cry out for help, the pain has already gotten so intense that they just immediately pass out. It can leave people at an utter loss as to what they should do. The heart attack just happens so quickly that before onlookers even get the chance to wise up, the person suffering may have already been irretrievably lost.  However, even when a serious heart attack takes place it does not spell certain doom. For in those brief moments of people struggling, their lives can still be saved.

With a generally unhealthier way of living becoming more prominent in society, the need for CPR training only becomes more pronounced. Fat-rich foods are littering the landscape and in the process, they are also clogging up the arteries of individuals the world over. The increased popularity of high-fat foods is troubling enough but when coupled with the growing lack of interest in exercise of the general population, the number of people at risk for a heart attack is only getting higher. The sad thing is that even if people start to drastically change their unhealthy lifestyles, the damage may have already been done and the once mighty heart of youth may now be a broken down device destined for disaster. Reversing the trend of unhealthiness is not enough to protect against the heart attack. In most cases, knowledge of CPR is essential.

The term CPR is actually just an acronym for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. CPR is administered with the sole intention of keeping the blood in the body moving. When a heart attack strikes, the flow of oxygenated blood stops and it can leave the most vital organs of the body without their needed supply of oxygen. The only way to keep the oxygenated blood flowing is through the act of CPR. By administering CPR, the body can remain functional enough that it can still be saved even after the heart attack. It is in these most important of moments that CPR training becomes truly useful.

The process of CPR boils down to three very simple and easy-to-learn steps. The initial step of CPR involves identifying the breathing pattern of the person that has just suffered from a heart attack. If the pattern proves to be irregular, then the next step of the process comes into play. The second step involves the actual pumping of the chest. It begins with 2 inch compression of the chest done over 30 times and it is then quickly followed by pumps that are done at a rate of over 100 per minute. If the person still proves to be unresponsive, then the next step must be applied. This involves breathing into the mouth of the collapsed individual and it must be done until the chest is filled with air. These simple steps are the ones to keep in mind for when the most unfortunate of incidences takes place.

You can also undergo CPR training and certification program being offered by Citywide CPR in order to really familiarize yourself with this life-saving procedure.

Keeping the Heartbeat Going

The heart is an incredibly strong and resilient muscle. It is in perpetual motion, pumping blood into every avenue of the body and never being able to rest because doing so would cause the body itself to drop dead. The heart and its functions are nothing short of remarkable, but for all its amazing qualities it is still a muscle and one that can be compromised. After years of constant service, the heart can get worn down. A more troubling development is when the heart also becomes invaded by unwelcome materials such as fat. This can lead to potential disaster and even death, the threat of which can only be thwarted with proper CPR training.

Heart attacks have grown more common now thanks to the prevalence of very unhealthy eating habits. People gorge themselves on high-fat foods on a regular basis and for most of them; the only results they are mindful of are the ones that show up on scales. It also does not help that people willfully forego exercise, making the presence of fat even more pronounced within the body. Too much fat can also have a very negative impact on the body. The abundance of fat in the body can result in the arteries getting clogged and eventually that will lead to a heart attack.  It is also worth noting that even if major changes are made to the eating and exercise habits, the damage done to the heart will still remain. This makes it all the more important for people to learn all that they can about CPR.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is the long way of saying CPR. The sole purpose of performing CPR is to keep the blood within the body moving. Heart attacks basically stop blood flow right in its tracks and this prevents oxygen from reaching vital organs such as the heart and brain. The prolonged lack of oxygen to these organs can result in major physical harm if not death. CPR works to keep the blood within the body in motion. CPR delivers doses of oxygenated blood to the most important body parts and this helps to stave off death and other potential complications. In short, CPR can allow the body to survive even in conditions when it should fail. That is what makes undergoing CPR training so important.

The entire process of administering CPR can be separated into three very basic steps. Step number one of the CPR procedure is to identify the breathing pattern being displayed by the individual. If the breathing pattern is deemed to be abnormal then the next step of CPR can be applied. The next step is all about pumping. The chest needs to be compressed up to 2 inches and it must be repeated for over 30 times, this is then followed by more rapid-fire pumping that takes place at a rate of about 100 per minute. The last step involves the breathing in procedure. Breaths must be administered up until the chest fills with air. Following this simple procedure can help onlookers save the lives of people in need.

Undergoing a CPR training and certification program, like the ones being administered by Citywide CPR is one of the easiest ways by which you can be ready for any medical emergency.

Training to Combat a Dreadful Disease

Illnesses and ailments are part and parcel of the human experience. They are the undoubtedly unpleasant parts, but part of the experience nonetheless. These diseases cause sensations of discomfort to the people they attack, and oftentimes what begins as a relatively minor ailment can evolve into something life-threatening. A prime example of this type of disease is the one that most commonly afflicts the cardiac muscle. The heart that serves to literally pump life into the body is an extraordinarily mighty muscle, and yet it too can be corrupted. In those moments in which the heart simply gives out the only people that could possibly help are the ones that have CPR training.

Heart disease is an all too common affliction of this modern age. Due in large part to the prevalence of unhealthy food options, people are finding it easier to adopt an unhealthy diet and sticking with it. The high-fat food fare of today has proven irresistible to a significant segment of the population. The result is a population soaring cholesterol levels. The choice food is harmful enough, but when it gets coupled with a lack of exercise then the entire scenario can only play out poorly. Even those that have changed their ways and embraced a new attitude when it comes to food are still eminently at risk for heart disease thanks to the years of abuse that have already taken place. It seems to be an inescapable reality of the times that heart attacks are merely lying in wait. If the heart of a loved one is too gravely damaged to eliminate the possibility of contracting heart disease, then the next best option is to opt for CPR training.

CPR is a staple of the essential emergency procedures. Its most important function is to promote the movement of the blood within the body. When a heart attack strikes, what it basically does is stop the flow of blood within the body. This means that the body’s vital organs are getting cut off from oxygen and the persistence of this scenario will eventually lead to death. CPR aims to act as a sort of artificial blood pump. By forcing the blood to move around the body, the vital organs are given the needed doses of oxygen that can sustain them until a more sophisticated type of care can be provided.

The proper application of CPR boils down to learning three basic steps. The initial step of cardiopulmonary resuscitation is to determine the actual nature of the breathing pattern. If the pattern is then identified as being abnormal, then the next step of the process can be undertaken. The second step is where the pumping of the chest takes place and it must be compressed up to 2 inches for 30 times, this must then be followed by a spell of rapid pumps that take place at a rate of about 100 per minute. The last step of the process is the administering of breath. The chest needs an infusion of air in this scenario and it must be filled up to the point that it rises.

If you need more help when it comes to CPR training, one of the institutions that you can head to is Citywide CPR. Citywide carries not only CPR training and certification programs but also provides AED program management services.

Responsible Administration of CPR Through Proper Training and Certification

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, or CPR, is an emergency medical procedure that is given to individuals who are suffering from cardiac arrest, as in the case of a heart attack. It is used to maintain normal brain function until advanced medical procedures that can restore spontaneous blood flow and normal breathing can be performed. People who have a heart attack often lose consciousness, and can possibly stop breathing or breathe irregularly. It is an important medical procedure that was developed in the early 20th century, and has successfully preserved the lives of countless individuals. A person who has had proper CPR training certification can provide assistance in various emergency situations. This is why many feel that a working knowledge of how to properly give CPR is an important skill which could come in handy one day.

Before taking CPR training certification, it helps to never underestimate the likelihood of ever needing to perform CPR on a family member, a loved one, a friend, or even for a complete stranger. Studies in the past have shown that heart disease in the US have accounted for more than seven hundred thousand deaths a year, which is a staggering figure by any standards. Strictly speaking, CPR cannot restart a stopped heart. However, if properly administered, the combination of CPR and artificial respiration techniques does have the potential to help restart a heart that has stopped beating, but only if they are administered within minutes of the stoppage. It is risky for a person who has not undergone proper CPR training certification to administer CPR because there are various health risks associated with improper CPR delivery. These include blunt trauma to the chest, as well as bruising or fracturing to the sternum and rib cage.

Because of the dangers involved in irresponsibly and incorrectly administering CPR, many hospitals and medical organizations have developed information dissemination campaigns that encourage people to take CPR training certification courses in order for them to learn the proper way of executing the techniques involved in CPR. By educating people about the benefits of knowing how to administer CPR properly, they become more capable of providing immediate assistance emergency medical cases.

People in the US who wish to receive CPR training can check with the American Heart Association, or AHA, in order to find a schedule of classes and examinations that they can take. Many of the classes offered by the AHA today can be taken online, while others can be taken at any of AHA’s local offices. Another way to earn CPR certification is by contacting the American Red Cross, which also offers CPR classes through its numerous local offices located all across the country. Individuals working in the medical field may also check with their company’s human resources department, in order to see if there are any CPR classes that they can take at work. There are also several local schools, churches and community centers that offer CPR classes with the assistance of the AHA, the American Red Cross, or from the local fire department and emergency rescuers.

The Importance of Knowing CPR and Getting Proper Training and Certification

The emergency medical procedure known as CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is performed in an effort to manually preserve the normal brain function of a person suffering from cardiac arrest, until such time proper medical procedures are given in order to restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing. It is usually administered to those who are unresponsive and are not breathing or breathing abnormally. It is an important medical procedure that has successfully preserved the lives of countless individuals, which is why a working knowledge of how to properly give CPR is important. A person who has had CPR training certification can provide assistance in many emergency situations.

When taking CPR training certification, it helps to have an understanding of how likely an individual might ever need to perform CPR on a family member, a loved one, a friend, or even on a complete stranger. Studies have shown that heart attacks in the US have accounted for more than two thousand deaths a day, a staggering figure by any standards. At any moment during a heart attack, the individual’s heart stops beating. If properly administered, the combination of CPR and artificial respiration techniques can help restart a heart that has stopped beating. It is risky for a person who has yet to take proper CPR training certification to administer CPR because there are various health risks associated with improper administration, such as chest trauma, as well as bruising or fracture to the sternum and rib cage. In most cases, CPR is used to keep the heart alive, thus allowing it to oxygenate blood and maintain regular cardiovascular activity until paramedics arrive to defibrillate the victim.

Because of the many risks involved in irresponsibly and incorrectly administering CPR, many hospitals and medical organizations have developed information dissemination campaigns that encourage people to take CPR training certification courses in order for them to have a better understanding of the proper way to execute the techniques involved in CPR. By educating people on the benefit of knowing how to properly administer CPR, they become more capable of providing immediate assistance in the event of a medical emergency.

In the US, people who wish to receive CPR training certification can check with the American Heart Association, or AHA, in order to find a schedule for the classes and examinations that they provide. Many of the classes offered by the AHA today can be taken online, while others can be taken at any of AHA’s local chapters. Another way to earn certification is by contacting the American Red Cross. This organization also offers CPR classes through its numerous local chapters located nationwide. Additionally, many schools, churches and community centers also offer CPR classes with the assistance of the AHA, the American Red Cross, or from the local fire department. Individuals working in the medical field may also check with their employers, particularly their human resources department,  to find out if there are any CPR training and certification program that they can enroll in so that they can earn their CPR card.

CPR: A Lifesaving Act

It happens unexpectedly, then the breaths get shorter, the chest begins to tighten and before long consciousness is lost. Panic ensues all around, that is if there are people around, and all of them are looking on in vain as the individual continues to clutch the chest, as if clinging on for dear life itself. It is cardiac arrest come to life, or more specifically to take it. Few moments, if any, can inspire as much fear as those few fleeting seconds of when an individual has the life literally being taken out of him. However, even in this alarmingly grim scenario there still exists hope. Hope that a person in the midst of cardiac arrest can hang on long enough for an ambulance, for a doctor, for anything at all that can improve the chances of live. But that hope is fleeting as well, it needs to be helped along. The only ones that can administer the help are the people with CPR training.

In an age where more and more people are being diagnosed with heart disease, knowledge of CPR can prove to be very valuable. Especially when people consider that these cardiac attacks are more likely to take place at home since the people most prone to them are probably retired. The sudden onset of cardiac arrest can certainly send people scrambling. It is a highly distressing sight to see in person and if it happens to a loved one then the stress only increases. But as always, it pays to stay calm and to be educated especially when it comes to topics that can actually save lives.

CPR is also known as cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The basic function of this act is to keep the essential functions of the brain going in those minutes in between the arrival of the ambulance. The procedure manages to accomplish this by maintaining a semblance of blood flow to the brain and heart. The small doses of oxygenated blood being pumped by this procedure may not be enough to fully restore the body, but they are enough to at the very least keep it in commission. If the person is not addressed properly over this time frame, then the brain may cease to function leading to death. CPR training is not that difficult to undertake and the skill itself is one well-worth knowing for real-life situations.

The first step of administering CPR is to determine whether the person in question is in need of it. This can be determined by a quick check of the breathing pattern. After determining an abnormal breathing pattern, what follows next is the pumping procedure. This can be done by pushing down on the chest 2 inches for 30 times and then this action is followed by rapid pumps being doled out at a rate of at least 100/minute. The last step in CPR involves lifting up the chin of the individual, pinching the nose and then subsequently breathing into the mouth until the chest rises. If the steps are done properly, then the individual should have at least partial blood flow to the body’s most important organs.

If you would like to be sure that your CPR training is well worth it, you can always undergo the CPR training and certification program being offered by Citywide CPR.

Finding the Right CPR Training and Certification Institution

When it comes to medical training, the shortest but most useful training that one can undergo is the CPR training. CPR trainings typically modules on how to administer CPR as well as basic life support. Because of its importance, more and more people are realizing the need to make sure that they get certified. The question now becomes, “which institution should you go to?”

Before you can go about choosing which CPR training and certification provider to go for, you would need first to settle what level of certification you would need. For example, if you happen to be a coach, a teacher, or a tutor, you might only have to attend the basic CPR training and certification program. On the other hand, if you happen to be hold a position that is related to the medical field, you might have to undergo an advanced form of the CPR training and certification.

It is also worthwhile to check whether the program that you would be undergoing would also include a session on how to make use of an AED unit during emergency cases. Keep in mind that with many establishments already implementing an AED program, it pays to have a basic knowledge of how to operate it.

Now, there are a number of organizations that offer CPR training and certification. The challenging part is the fact that there is no one body that controls the quality of the training offered by these organizations. If you would like to be on the safe side, you can undergo those that are being directly administered by the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross. If this is not possible, go for institutions that have been recognized by the two aforementioned organizations. While you’re at it, you also have to make sure that you evaluate the dependability of the provider. Some of the things that you might have to look into would include the length of years they have been in the industry, how easy it is to get in touch with them, and the kind of customer service that they have. Remember, you might have to “update” your knowledge about CPR every year or so.

Get to know who the instructors are and verify if they have what it takes to conduct the training. This is especially the case if you would be going for a training provider outside of AHA and the American Red Cross.

Of course, you need to make sure that the provider you would be signing up with would have a schedule that fits yours. Most of the programs take only about a few hours so you would have to make arrangements especially if you have to look after your children, or have work to do. Consider also the registration or “tuition” fee that you would have to pay. With so many organizations offering this kind of training, finding one that is budget-friendly should not be a problem.

Undergoing a CPR training and certification program need not be a complicated matter. All you have to do is get in touch with Citywide CPR. Citywide CPR can also help you with your AED program management.

Inside the World of Defibrillators

No one can predict when someone could succumb to SCA, or Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Considered as one of the major heart conditions that has taken the life of around half a million Americans each year, SCA tends to come without any warning. In most cases, an electrical disturbance in the heart causes the latter to quiver instead of having a normal beating pattern. This, in turn, could put undue pressure to the heart. In cases like these, what a person would need is something that would cause his or her heart to regain normal beating pattern. This is where the AED comes in.

AED stands for Automated External Defibrillator. It is a portable electronic device that could come in handy when it comes to assessing the condition of an unconscious victim. This electronic device comes with two pad, adhesives, wires that connect the pads to the main unit, and the main unit itself. In order to make use of the AED, the responder has first to make sure that the victim is lying in a safe and dry ground. The two pads are then attached to the victim’s chest using the adhesives. Once the machine has been turned on, it would try to assess the victim’s current condition. Based on the assessment, the machine would generally recommend administering electrical jolts in order to help the heart get back to its natural beating pattern. This usually happens if the patient suffered from a  cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia. If, however, the patient is suffering from other medical condition that has caused him or her to lose consciousness, the machine would most probably recommend that the responder administer CPR. Since most units of AED comes with both visual and audio prompts, it should not be hard for any responder to be able to conduct CPR.

Because of the role that AEDs play in the rescue process, it is no wonder that more and more states are making it mandatory for industrial and commercial areas to have at least one unit of AED on standby. It also helps that a number of commercial establishments themselves have taken it upon them to have their own AED unit on standby.

But just how important is an AED, or CPR for that matter?

With each second that the heart is unable to pump, or circulate, blood, the chances of the person having to deal with tissue necrosis increases. Without the needed oxygen, tissues, and consequently major organs, would start to die. Of course, this means that, a couple of hours more and the victim would already succumb to Sudden Cardiac Arrest. By administering CPR, blood circulation is restored, albeit in an artificial manner. On the other hand, with the use of the AED, the heart could be jolted back to proper rhythm allowing it to pump blood more efficiently.

If you have no idea how to set up an AED program management, you can always seek the help of Citywide CPR. Citywide CPR also offers CPR training and certification programs.

Handling A Medical Emergency

If someone suddenly falls beside you unconscious, can you honestly say that you would know what to do? Most people would probably give a negative answer. After all, not everyone of us had actually undergone a CPR training program. If you belong to this group of people, what are the things that you need to keep in mind?

  1. If someone is already attending to the unconscious victim, your best bet would be to dial 9-1-1 and report the emergency. However, if there is no one around attending to the victim, you might have to start CPR while dialing 9-1-1. Keep in mind that, in cases of unconscious victims, each minute that vital organs are not able to get the needed oxygen, the probability of the victim not making it through, increases.
  2. When doing chest compressions, make sure that you look first for the end of the sternum. From the end, measure two inches up. This is where you need to place the heel of your palm. Each of your compression should be at least 5 centimeters in depth. You would need to make as much as 100 compressions per minute. Just like what most professionals would say, the best way to ensure that your timing is correct is to go along the beat of Stayin’ Alive.
  3. If you are within any establishment, check if there is an AED unit available. Since most states have made it mandatory to have an AED on hand, it would be impossible for you to be in a place where there is no AED around. The AED can help you assess the condition of the victim or patient. It would also help you decide whether there is a need for electrical shocks or not. The unit can also prove to be useful especially for those who do not have background in how proper CPR is done. This is because most AED units come with both visual and audio prompts that help guide the user on what to do next.
  4. If there is no AED unit around, and you are not sure how CPR is done, the best that you can do is administer hands-only CPR. This process means that you have to continuously administer chest compressions until (1) you are already tired and there is someone in the crowd who can take your place, or (2) the paramedics have arrived. In some cases, although this is very rare, compressions can help revive the victim. If this happens, make sure that you bring the victim to the hospital in order to assess his or her condition.
  5. Keep in mind that the hands-only or compression-only CPR can only be used for adults and children. For pregnant women as well as infants, a different set of CPR procedure is to be used. This is because the pressure involved in traditional chest compressions and CPR may not be suited for the small bodies of infants.

Make sure that you are not caught unaware. One way that you can do this is by undergoing a CPR training and certification program being offered by Citywide CPR.