Bystander CPR doubles chances of survival
A Swedish study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in June 2015 has shown that receiving Bystander CPR within 2 minutes of cardiac arrest was associated with a survival rate of more than double that when people had to wait for the emergency services to arrive before CPR was given. The survival rate was measured at 30 days so it wasn’t simply an initial improvement but it was sustained. Therefore if we want to save more lives we need more people to know how to deliver CPR and to be willing to deliver it. I always joke on my courses that I’ve made sure my family know what to do so they could rescue me, but the question is would you know what to do?
Increasing the numbers of people who know CPR
The Vinnie Jones advert was a fantastic campaign and really highlighted CPR to the masses and demonstrated how easy ‘hands-only CPR’ is to deliver. Various campaigns have tried to build on this momentum and the British Heart Foundation and the Resuscitation Council have campaigned to have CPR included in the national curriculum. However, the government have yet to make it a compulsory aspect. Research has shown that teaching our children also has a positive impact on survival rates because it not only teaches our population but it also creates a culture whereby delivering CPR is what you do.
The other very successful tool that we have is the Lifesaver app. This is an interactive learning tool, it consists of 3 videos that you have to interact with; there is one for CPR and AED, one for the Recovery Position, one for the management of choking in an adult. The other great video that has recently been made is ‘The Chokeables’ from the St Johns which shows what to do with an infant that is choking. Unfortunately it doesn’t show what to do if the infant becomes unconscious; if a baby becomes unconscious from choking or is unconscious and not breathing then you need to do CPR, there is a video here that shows how to do this.
Attending a course
The best way to learn CPR is to attend a hands-on course so that you can practise on the manikins. This doesn’t have to be expensive; there is the ‘Call, Push, Rescue’ campaign from the British Heart Foundation. Also there may be an instructor in your area, who like me, will run not-for-profit sessions for youth groups, schools or family/friends groups. If you have a group of between 6 and 12 people I will deliver a ‘Save a Life Party’. You just need a venue that is big enough and then we can arrange a mutually agreeable time. I just ask for a donation to cover any costs.
Interested in learning CPR?
If you’re a group or school and interested in learning CPR please contact me about arranging a course.
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