HeartCert & Life Saving Hearts Georgia

CNA & CPR Training GA

hands-only cpr

What is the Out-of-Hospital Chain of Survival?

by

When a person goes into sudden cardiac arrest outside of a health care facility, there is a specific sequence of events that, if performed fully and efficiently, can significantly improve their chances of survival and recovery. This is known as the Out-of-Hospital Chain of Survival.

Register For a CPR Class

According to the American Heart Association, there are six steps in this process. Each is vitally important to a cardiac arrest patient’s survival. It’s important to understand the chain and what role you might play, should you encounter someone in sudden cardiac arrest.

The Six Steps of the Out-of-Hospital Chain of Survival

out-of-hospital chain of survival
image c/o American Heart Association
  1. Recognition of cardiac arrest, and activation of the emergency response system (calling 911)
  2. Performing CPR as quickly as possible, with an emphasis on chest compressions
  3. Defibrillation with an AED
  4. Resuscitation and advanced care performed by emergency medical responders and health care providers
  5. Additional care performed after the cardiac arrest
  6. Recovery treatment, rehabilitation or observation as needed

A Bystander’s Role in the Chain of Survival

The first three steps of the chain must often be performed by bystanders, whether or not they know the patient. If nothing else, it’s vital to understand when a sudden cardiac arrest is taking place, and to call 911.

But performing CPR as soon as possible is key to improving outcomes. According to data from 2014, almost 45 percent of people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of health care settings survived when bystander CPR was performed. And because about 70 percent of cardiac arrests take place in the home, the life you save may be that of a family member.

Ready to get started with CPR? Schedule a CPR training course today.

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR and First Aid in the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota.

HeartCert CPR courses include CPR/AED/First Aid and CPR/AED, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Certified Nursing Assistant training. Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.

We are now offering virtual CPR courses and certifications, as well as safe in-person courses at our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

Did you know Good Samaritan laws protect bystanders who perform CPR?

by

In an earlier blog post, we discussed some of the common reasons that bystanders don’t perform CPR when they encounter someone in cardiac arrest. The reasons given include fear of causing additional harm and of touching a person inappropriately. Another common reason is the fear of legal action should something go wrong.

legal
photo credit: @jaifoto accessed 11/20/19 via CC0

According to new research, that fear isn’t really justified. There are very few lawsuits ever filed in connection with performing CPR. In fact, the failure to perform CPR has led to significantly more legal action.

Good Samaritan Laws Protect Bystanders

Every state in the U.S., including Minnesota, has some form of a “Good Samaritan” law. These laws offer legal protection to people who provide reasonable assistance if they believe someone is injured or in danger. This is one of the primary reasons that people who perform bystander CPR are not very likely to be brought to court, and if they are, that they will be protected. Everyone should call 9-1-1 and give help to the best of their ability.

Ultimately, the best way to avoid any apprehension or fear over performing bystander CPR is to take a CPR training course! All of these barriers to act are comprehensively covered to help you feel prepared in case of an emergency. Sign up today and be ready if and when the need arises.

Register For a CPR Class Today

 

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PAL, EMR and First Aid in the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota. We now offer online, night and weekend classes to fit your busy schedule!

HeartCert offers a variety of courses, including CPR/AED/First Aid and CPR/AED, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Emergency Medical Responder – First Responder (EMR). Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.

Find your CPR class at any of our convenient Twin Cities locations, including our new headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

A Brief History of CPR

by

It’s back to school season in Minneapolis and across the country, so we decided it might be a good time for a history lesson! According to the American Heart Association, CPR has existed in some form for hundreds of years, with the current method only developed within the last century.

history
Photo c/o the American Heart Association

It’s unclear whether any of these tactics actually worked, but it’s interesting to see how CPR has changed throughout history.

Flagellation Method – Early Ages

This entailed whipping with stinging nettles, or striking with the hands or a wet cloth in order to rouse a response from the victim.

Bellows Method – 1530s

Rescuers used fireplace bellows, which were traditionally used to blow air into a lagging fire, to force air into the lungs.

Inversion and Barrel Methods – 1770s

Primarily used in drownings, the inversion method entailed hanging victims upside down to remove pressure from the lungs. In the barrel method, victims were rolled over a barrel to force chest compressions.

 

Register For a CPR Class Today

 

Trotting Horse Method – 1800s

Similar to the barrel method, pressure was manually applied to the chest – this time, by laying over a trotting horse.

Leroy Method – 1820s

This tactic was similar to today’s hands-only CPR, in that victims were laid on their back. Pressure was then applied to the abdomen and chest.

Dalrymple Method – 1830s

This entailed placing a long cloth underneath a person lying on their back, crossing the cloth over the chest, and two people pulling on each end.

Mouth-to-Mouth Resuscitation – 1958

The rescuer blows into the victim’s mouth, forcing air into the lungs.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation – 1960

This was a combination of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions.

Hands-Only CPR – 2008

In an effort to motivate more bystanders to perform CPR, the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation portion of modern CPR was removed.

Ready to learn hands-only CPR and be prepared to save a life? Register for a St. Paul CPR training course today.

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for First Aid and CPR in the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota. We now offer online, night and weekend classes to fit your busy schedule! We offer a variety of courses, including CPR/AED/First Aid and CPR/AED, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Emergency Medical Responder – First Responder (EMR).

Find your CPR class at any of our convenient Twin Cities locations, including our new headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

Hands-Only CPR Boost Bystander Intervention

by

A new study has confirmed that the adoption of hands-only CPR has made bystanders more likely to perform CPR on someone in cardiac arrest. Because receiving any form of CPR doubles the odds of surviving a cardiac arrest, this is excellent, lifesaving news!

hands-only cpr

Hands-only CPR became more widely known and accepted after 2015, when the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines included the option in its CPR guidelines. Now, instead of requiring both chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths, bystanders can choose to only perform compressions until medical help arrives.

In the study, Swedish researchers examined more than 30,400 people who suffered a cardiac arrest in a non-hospital setting. Twenty percent received hands-only CPR, while 39 percent received standard CPR and 40 percent received no CPR until emergency responders arrived.

This may seem like mixed results, but those numbers indicate a significant increase in bystander CPR performance rates. The numbers increased  from 40.8 percent in 2000-2005 to 68.2 percent in 2011-2017. And although this survey was performed in Sweden, recent research has shown similar increases in the United States.

According to the AHA, more than 325,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital setting every year in the United States. Receiving immediate CPR keeps the blood flow active until medical help arrives on scene. This more than doubles the odds of survival!

Do you want to be a lifesaver? Sign up for a HeartCert CPR class today.

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for First Aid and CPR in the Twin Cities and throughout Minnesota. We now offer online, night and weekend classes to fit your busy schedule!

Find your CPR Class, PALS Class, BLS Class, EMR Class or ACLS Class at any of our convenient Twin Cities locations, including our new headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan:

We also have three partner locations in greater Minnesota:

How to Perform Hands-Only CPR

by

 

save a life with hands-only cpr

If someone suddenly collapsed in front of you, would you know what to do? If you’ve taken our CPR and First Aid courses, or taken advantage of our Free Blue Cross/Blue Shield CPR courses, then you’ll know how to act. But if you haven’t (yet) you can still take action to save a life by remembering these simple steps for performing hands-only CPR using the American Heart Association Guidelines: 

Hands-Only CPR Can Save Lives

Most people who experience cardiac arrest at home, work or in a public location die because they don’t receive immediate CPR from someone on the scene. As a bystander, don’t be afraid. Your actions can only help. When calling 911, you will be asked for your location. Be specific, especially if you’re calling from a mobile phone as that is not associated with a fixed address. Answering the dispatcher’s questions will not delay the arrival of help. 

How to Give Hands-Only CPR

If you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse, call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of any tune that is 100 to 120 beats per minute. Immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival.

Other ways to help:

Share this knowledge page from the American Heart Assocation, full of easy-to-understand graphs and fun videos. Follow the hashtag #CPRSavesLives for inspirational stories!

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for First Aid and CPR in Minnesota. Find your CPR Class, PALS Class, BLS Class or ACLS Class at any of our Minnesota locations:

We also partner with Duluth, Mankato, Rochester, Appleton and Anchorage for select classes.