Chandler Regional Hospital encourages CPR training

It happens all the time. Someone has a heart attack. Another is in a serious car accident. Another chokes on a piece of food. If someone were unconscious and needed resuscitation, would you know what to do?

Chandler Regional Hospital (CRH) would like to promote safety through Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training. Being prepared in a crisis is a large percentage of ensuring a successful outcome.

CPR can and does save lives by restoring breathing and circulation until advanced support is provided by medical caregivers.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the value of early CPR by bystanders is that it can buy time by maintaining some blood flow to the heart and brain during cardiac arrest until professional medical treatment can be provided.

CPR should only be performed when a person isn't breathing or when the heart stops pumping blood (cardiac arrest), so it is important that people learn not only how to correctly administer CPR, but also to understand the signs.

According to AHA, the signs of cardiac arrest include:

1. No response: The victim does not respond to touch or voice.

2. No normal breathing: Upon looking, listening and feeling for breaths, it is determined the victim is not breathing at all or normally.

3. No signs of circulation: There is no normal breathing, coughing or moving. The victim remains limp and lifeless.

If you encounter someone and suspect heart attack, cardiac arrest, stroke, choking or other emergency situation, phone 911 immediately.

The steps for the AHA Adult Chain of Survival include:
1) phone 911; 2) begin CPR; 3) perform defibrillation, and 4) transfer to advanced care.

For steps 2 and 3, CRH does offer and recommend CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training. Classes are available for all ages and skill levels.

Healthcare Provider CPR is a certification course for the person who works in the healthcare field (RNs, MDs, EMTs, CEPs). Classes are held on the third Thursday of every month from 6 - 10 p.m., starting Jan. 20, 2005 (<--please note the year - this may have changed since publication).

Heartsaver AED CPR is a certification course for the lay person including babysitters, foster parents or any community member interested in proper training. Classes are held on the first Thursday of every month from 6 - 10 p.m., starting Feb. 3, 2005.

Both courses teach CPR according to AHA standards and provide instruction regarding baby, child and adult CPR, relief of foreign body airway obstruction, as well as the use of AED for adult and child victims. Each class is $25 and is taught in the cafeteria classrooms of CRH at 475 S. Dobson Rd.

Other classes are available upon request to include CPR for family and friends and classes taught in Spanish.

For more information or to register for one of CRH CPR classes, visit Chandler Regional Hospital or call (480) 728-3000.

Amy Andelora is a frequent contributor whose articles appear in Health Tips.