We all know that learning CPR and using an automated external defibrillator are valuable skills to obtain, but studies show that nearly half of America still do not possess these abilities or feel confident that they would use them if they do.
In the United States, more than 325,000 people go into cardiac arrest outside of a medical setting every year. When those people receive CPR immediately, their odds of survival are more than doubled. The likelihood that they won’t suffer brain damage or other lasting harm increases significantly as well. So why don’t more bystanders perform CPR on people who are in need and why isn’t everyone trained in CPR and AED use? Here, we will discuss the five most common reasons that keep bystanders from performing CPR.
Cost of training is another consideration by many and used as an excuse for not taking a CPR class or learning these skills. However, many fire departments and local agencies are able to provide discounted or free training and the cost of a class, depending on your location and training agency is usually well under $100 which seems like a small price to pay to get proper training and feel confident, willing and able to act in case of emergency. Most CPR classes and certifications are valid for 2 years so this knowledge would cost roughly 13 cents a day over two years and will continue well beyond this timeframe.
Of the 677 people surveyed, fewer than 65 percent of respondents said that they would be “extremely likely†or “moderately likely†to perform CPR. It is clear, from these results, that additional CPR education and training is key to ensuring that more bystanders perform CPR.
The American Red Cross and American Heart Association along with other organizations have been pushing for many years to train more people in these life-saving skills. Even in their curriculum they note many of these ‘barriers to act’, the reasons many Americans still would not know what to do in case of a medical emergency. By taking a CPR class from a reputable organization all of these barriers are addressed so that more people can feel ready to help in case of emergency. If you don’t know CPR you are less likely to help someone in need and that person could be someone you know or love, take a CPR course to overcome the barriers to act and learn how to save a life, there’s no reason not to.
Tim Smith is an EMT and a former full-time Twin Cities Fire Captain who founded HeartCert in 2010 with his wife Christina, a Registered Nurse and former Paramedic. Tim and Christina have a true love for helping others and are passionate about education and enhancing the community, so starting a CPR training company was a perfect fit for them. Tim started out doing 1 on 1 CPR and First Aid certification classes in his living room before expanding into multiple locations throughout the state of Minnesota and adding 20+ very skilled, highly trained, healthcare professionals who share in his love for bettering their community and fun teaching style. HeartCert continues to grow as a local, family owned business. Tim’s mission is to support that of the American Heart Association and American Red Cross which strives to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. To better achieve this mission HeartCert has expanded outside of the Twin Cities Minnesota Metro area and now offers courses in multiple regions and states.
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We all know that learning CPR and using an automated external defibrillator are valuable skills to obtain, but studies show that nearly half of America still do not possess these abilities or feel confident that they would use them if they do.
In the United States, more than 325,000 people go into cardiac arrest outside of a medical setting every year. When those people receive CPR immediately, their odds of survival are more than doubled. The likelihood that they won’t suffer brain damage or other lasting harm increases significantly as well. So why don’t more bystanders perform CPR on people who are in need and why isn’t everyone trained in CPR and AED use? Here, we will discuss the five most common reasons that keep bystanders from performing CPR.
Cost of training is another consideration by many and used as an excuse for not taking a CPR class or learning these skills. However, many fire departments and local agencies are able to provide discounted or free training and the cost of a class, depending on your location and training agency is usually well under $100 which seems like a small price to pay to get proper training and feel confident, willing and able to act in case of emergency. Most CPR classes and certifications are valid for 2 years so this knowledge would cost roughly 13 cents a day over two years and will continue well beyond this timeframe.
Of the 677 people surveyed, fewer than 65 percent of respondents said that they would be “extremely likely†or “moderately likely†to perform CPR. It is clear, from these results, that additional CPR education and training is key to ensuring that more bystanders perform CPR.
The American Red Cross and American Heart Association along with other organizations have been pushing for many years to train more people in these life-saving skills. Even in their curriculum they note many of these ‘barriers to act’, the reasons many Americans still would not know what to do in case of a medical emergency. By taking a CPR class from a reputable organization all of these barriers are addressed so that more people can feel ready to help in case of emergency. If you don’t know CPR you are less likely to help someone in need and that person could be someone you know or love, take a CPR course to overcome the barriers to act and learn how to save a life, there’s no reason not to.
Vlad Magdalin