What is CPR?

It is the artificial method of circulating blood and oxygen through a body and attempting to keep the brain alive. Secondary to having an Automatic External Defibrillator on hand, CPR is the most important determiner of survival.

Why Learn CPR?

• When initiated within four minutes, the survival rate is 43 percent. When initiated within four to eight minutes, the survival rate is ten percent. This is why Automatic External Defibrillators are a key to survival.
• One in seven people will have the opportunity to use CPR in their lifetime.
• More than 650,000 people die annually from heart attack in the United States each year.
• More than 350,000 die before reaching the hospital.
• When the brain starts to go four to six minutes without oxygen, brain damage/death begins.
• When CPR is needed, Hillsborough County Fire Resscue is the first to initiate it 85 percent of the time.
• In the United States, there are 6,000 drowning incidents a year and 3,100 incidents of airway obstructions a year.

Signs and Symptoms of Heart Attack

1. Denial is one of the greatest dangers that individuals face when presented with the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. People simply do not want to believe that “it is happening to them.”
2. Classic signs and symptoms of a heart are:
• Chest pain - can be an uncomfortable pressure, tightness. Patients often feel that they have an upset stomach. Even when antiacids do not work, often individuals continue their denial.
• Heavy squeezing pain like a weight on the chest, can radiate to left arm and neck.
• Excessive sweating when there is not reason ( i.e., the patient is not active ).
• Pale skin
3. Nausea/vomiting
4. Shortness of breath

Actions for survival

1. Recognize signs and symptoms
2. Stop activity, rest, lay down
3. If pain lasts more than two minutes, call for help
4. Patient's having early signs often deny having a heart attack
5. Call 9-1-1.

How to Learn CPR

Contact you local American Heart Association or American Red Cross.