If you have taken a corporate onsite CPR training course, chances are that you have learned how to use an automated external defibrillator, or AED. However, before you use an AED on someone that you suspect is experiencing a cardiac arrest episode, you should take a moment to check on the individual.
If you witness an individual collapsing or passing out, or if you come upon an individual who is already unconscious, you should confirm that the individual is unresponsive. You should shout and shake them to make sure they’re not just sleeping. Keep in mind though, that you should never shake an infant or very young child. Instead, you should pinch children in an attempt to wake them up.
What to Do
Before getting out the automated external defibrillator, you should call for emergency personnel. If there is someone else with you, have them call for emergency personnel and get the AED while you are performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which you can learn through a corporate onsite CPR training class.
After calling for emergency personnel and ensuring that they are on the way, you should check the person for a pulse and for breathing. If you notice that either of these are irregular or even absent, you should make preparations to use the AED as soon as possible. Cardiac arrest episodes can result in death if not treated within a few minutes.
If you did not witness the collapse and there is no one who knows the length of time that an individual has been unconscious, or if you don’t have an automated electronic defibrillator, you should do two minutes of CPR. You will be instructed in the proper CPR techniques in a corporate onsite CPR training course.
The American Heart Association encourages you to use “hands-only” CPR instead of traditional CPR. The point is to encourage the oxygenated blood to flow through the individual’s vital organs. Teens and adults have enough oxygen in their bodies to keep their vital organs alive until help arrives. You should do compressions at a rate of 100 per minute.
After you use an AED, or if you do not have access to an AED, you should keep giving CPR until medical help arrives or the person has been revived. You should try to limit your pauses between cycles of CPR.
If you do have access to an AED, after two minutes, you should use the AED to check the individual’s heart rhythm and then, if necessary, give another shock. If another shock is not necessary, simply continue offering cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
How to Use an AED
If you take a corporate onsite CPR training class, you will learn how to properly use an AED. If you have not taken one and don’t have plans in the near future to do so, the following instructions can help you.
Automated External Defibrillators are user-friendly machines that even the untrained bystander can use in order to save the life of an individual who is suffering from a cardiac arrest episode.
Due to the fact that an AED uses electric shock, you will need to make sure that the victim is not near any water or puddles. If they are, try to move them to a dry area – avoid any type of wetness when delivering shocks to a victim.
Turn on the power to the AED. You will see that the device will give you both on-screen prompts and voice prompts on how to use it.
First, expose the victim’s chest. If their chest is wet, dry it. You will see that the AED has sticky pads that have sensors known as electrodes. Look at the pictures on the AED and apply the pads to the victim’s chest as instructed. Make sure that the pads have a strong connection with the skin.
Make sure to remove any metal necklaces or underwire bras – metal could conduct electricity and cause burns. Also, check for any medical devices or body piercings. If either of these are present, keep the pads at least one inch away from them.
Make sure electrodes are connected properly to the AED and no one is touching the victim. Then, press the “analyze” button and the machine will check the victim’s heart rate. If shock is necessary, the AED will let you know when to do so.
As you are instructed in corporate onsite CPR training courses, you will begin or continue CPR until medical personnel arrive or the victim has been revived.
Sources:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/aed/howtouse
]]>There are many different situations when CPR can potentially save a person’s life or minimize brain damage and other health problems. Though use of CPR is not always enough to guarantee a person’s survival, when used correctly, it can dramatically increase their chances. CPR training in NJ can help you learn how to identify these life-threatening situations and how to immediately respond. With CPR training in NJ, you’ll have to tools to potentially save the life of a friend, coworker, family member, or stranger.
Situations to Use CPR
When you see someone unconscious or collapsed on the ground, they may need CPR and other forms of assistance. CPR, also known as cardio pulmonary resuscitation, can help restore breathing and beating of the person’s heart and save their life. Individuals who complete AED and CPR training in NJ are better prepared to identify people who might need this type of help.
Some situations that may require CPR include drowning, suffocation, heart attack, allergic reaction, choking, and electric shock. One of the most common situations when CPR is needed is during sudden cardiac arrest. This occurs when a person’s heart suddenly stops beating. This is why it’s so important to check breathing and heartbeat when you encounter someone who looks unconscious.
Cardiac arrest typically happens after a person experiences an especially long or severe type of heart arrhythmia, which is when the heart beats in an irregular rhythm or too slowly or quickly. Anyone could have minor cases of arrhythmia, but some people experience arrhythmia more often or have more serious cases of arrhythmia, and this makes sudden cardiac arrest more likely. Some common causes of arrhythmia include:
Coronary Heart Disease
If you have coronary heart disease, your arteries slowly clog with cholesterol and other deposits. This reduces the amount of blood that can flow to your heart and affects the ability of your heart to beat at a proper rhythm.
Heart Attack
During a heart attack, a person may experience ventricular fibrillation, which is when the lower chambers of the heart wither but do not contract effectively. This is one of the most common causes of heart attacks and one of the most common reasons why people need CPR or AED. CPR training in NJ can teach you how to recognize when this is happening and help you provide treatment quickly and correctly.
Congenital Heart Disease
Some people are born with abnormalities in their heart, and this can make the risk of heart attack and arrhythmia higher. This can even affect adolescents and children and cause them to experience sudden cardiac arrest. When providing CPR to younger victims, it’s very important that the person understand what they are doing. Courses that provide CPR training in NJ teach participants how to provide CPR to different ages, so that you are always prepared during an emergency.
Problems With the Electrical System
Every person’s heart is controlled by electrical signals. These electrical signals tell the heart when to contract, how fast to contract, and how much to contract. When the electrical system is working correctly, the heart beats a normal rhythm, but sometimes the electrical systems stops working the way it’s supposed to. These types of problems are known as primary heart abnormalities. Though rare, there are some conditions that can cause these types of abnormalities such as long QT syndrome and Brugada’s syndrome.
These are only a few of the possible causes of arrhythmia and sudden cardiac arrest. There are many different reasons why a person may suddenly require medical attention, and that’s why CPR training in NJ is so important. Contact us to learn more about our programs and services.
Sources:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sudden-cardiac-arrest/basics/causes/con-20042982
]]>After a person completes corporate onsite CPR training, they’ll be prepared to respond in a number of different emergency situations. If someone collapses, they will be able to apply their training and respond appropriately. They’ll even be trained to use the AED, the automated external defibrillator, to provide electrical stimulation to the heart and help the heartbeat at a normal rhythm. Some of the reasons why someone may need CPR include choking, suffocating, electric shock, severe allergic reaction, and drowning.
Though there are a variety of reasons why a person may require CPR, two of the most common reasons are heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest. These two conditions are related, but they are not the same. Unfortunately, if you don’t have a medical background, it is likely that you don’t know the difference between a heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest.
Understanding the difference is important because it can help you respond more effectively during an emergency. It can also help you communicate more accurately over the phone and with medical professionals who arrive on the scene, and this can save precious seconds when they work to revive the victim. Corporate onsite CPR training can be a great way to teach coworkers more about heart attacks and sudden cardiac arrest and give them the tools to respond correctly in these life-or-death situations.
What Is a Heart Attack?
There is a lot of confusion among the general population about what is and isn’t a heart attack. A heart attack is caused when the blood flowing to a section of the heart is reduced or stopped completely due to blockage in an artery. Though heart attacks can be acute and happen suddenly, they are often more gradual. The artery becomes significantly clogged, and the reduced blood flow causes a part of the heart to get weaker and weaker until the symptoms become very severe.
During many heart attacks, the heart continues to beat, but not enough blood is reaching the heart. However, sometimes the person goes into sudden cardiac arrest. Individuals with corporate onsite CPR training may be able to provide CPR and use an AED to help the heart start beating normally.
What Is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?
Sudden cardiac arrest is when a person’s heart suddenly stops beating. There are many different reasons for sudden cardiac arrest, but it typically is related to the electrical signals that control the rhythm of the heart. If a person’s heart begins to beat too quickly, too slowly, or at an irregular rhythm, this can lead to sudden cardiac arrest. Corporate onsite CPR training can help teach employees how to check for a person’s heartbeat and identify if sudden cardiac arrest has occurred.
Though heart attacks and decreased blood flow can affect the ability of the heart to beat at a healthy rhythm, these two conditions are not always related. Sometimes a heart attack is not followed by sudden cardiac arrest, and sometimes sudden cardiac arrest occurs even though the person never had a heart attack.
Whether it’s a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest, it’s important that the person get medical attention immediately. Coworkers should call 911 as soon as possible. If the person stops breathing or if their heart stops beating, it is very important that someone begins CPR and finds a nearby AED. Corporate onsite CPR training can be crucial in these situations. AEDs are especially important during sudden cardiac arrest, as they can restart the heart and prevent further damage or death. If you’d like to learn more about how we can provide corporate onsite CPR training to your company, contact us today.
Sources:
]]>Every year, there are more and more AEDs in public areas, shopping malls, and office buildings throughout New Jersey. In addition, corporate onsite CPR training is becoming more widespread as businesses are doing everything they can to increase safety in the workplace. These devices are helping save people’s lives when they have sudden heart problems that result in cardiac arrest. Though these machines are easy to use, it is still very important that more people receive AED training and CPR training in NJ. The proper training will increase the chance that someone will be able to use the device properly, and research has shown that these devices can help double or triple a person’s chance of surviving sudden cardiac arrest.
Every minute counts in these types of emergencies. Someone with AED and CPR training in NJ has the knowledge and skills to immediately respond to an emergency, increasing the chance that the person survives. If you have never seen or used an AED before, it can be intimidating, especially when someone else’s life is on the line. Completing AED and CPR training in NJ will help give you the training and confidence to respond correctly in any emergency without hesitation.
What Is an Automated External Defibrillator?
An AED, also known as an automated external defibrillator, is a small device that can help save the life of someone who has experienced sudden cardiac arrest. The device has electrodes that you attach to the person’s chest, and these electrodes can detect the person’s heartbeat and determine if they need an electric shock to restore the normal rhythm of their heart. The device can then deliver that electric shock to the person’s heart and help them before it’s too late. In combination with CPR training in NJ, the use of an AED can dramatically increase a person’s chance of survival.
AEDs are lightweight, portable, and powered by batteries, making it very easy to carry them to any victim and begin using them. They are normally located in malls, offices, and in public places, so that they can be used in an emergency. Because AEDs are automated, they are very easy to use. With the training in a corporate onsite CPR training session, anyone can learn how to use one effectively. The computer in an AED is able to analyze the person’s heartbeat and will prevent you from using an AED on a person who doesn’t need it. The computer will also help assist you in using the product and will tell you when to provide the electric shock. CPR training in NJ can provide more familiarity with the device, which ensures that it used 100% correctly.
When Do You Use an AED?
If a person’s heart has suddenly stopped beating, their body goes into sudden cardiac arrest, and this is when an AED can be used to potentially save that person’s life. Classes for CPR training in NJ can show you how to recognize when someone is experiencing sudden cardiac arrest and how to quickly respond.
If someone suddenly loses consciousness and collapses, you should immediately try to wake them up and get them to respond. If they do not respond, you need to check their breathing and pulse and call 9-1-1. At this point, you will need to immediately provide CPR and use the AED before the medical professionals arrive. This type of response, if performed correctly, can dramatically increase someone’s chances of surviving. With corporate onsite CPR training, you can learn exactly what to do and how to do it during a future emergency. Contact us for more information about CPR training in NJ.
Sources:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/aed/howtouse
]]>Though CPR, which stands for cardio pulmonary resuscitation, has been around for a long time, many people don’t know exactly how it works, the science behind it, or how effective it is. This is too bad, because if the public better understood how important CPR is, more people would enroll in CPR training in NJ. Fortunately, more and more public schools are providing CPR training in NJ, and this is making all communities in the state safer. The number of corporations offering this training to employees is also increasing around New Jersey.
Though some people are turned off by the idea of having to perform CPR on total strangers, the truth is that most medical emergencies occur at home and at work. In addition to potentially saving the lives of strangers, CPR training in NJ can also help you save the lives of your family, friends, and others you care about. CPR training is most likely to save the life of someone you know and care about, and that’s why so many people are interested in learning how to safely perform it. Additionally, there are hands-only CPR techniques that can be learned that avoid mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for those who are squeamish about that type of technique.
CPR Saves Lives
Research conducted on CPR continues to show that CPR can potentially save a person’s life — about 92,000 lives every year. CPR can be an effective way to restore breathing and normal heart function, and it can increase a person’s chance of survival after
- sudden cardiac arrest
- heart attack
- choking
- suffocating
- almost drowning
- suffering an allergic reaction
- getting shocked with electricity
- overdosing on drugs
This isn’t to say that CPR will always save a person’s life. When a person requires CPR, their body is already under an extreme amount of stress, and the problems that caused their heart to stop may be too serious to repair with CPR. About 92% of people who experience sudden cardiac arrest do not survive before they arrive at the hospital; however, performing CPR immediately can double or triple that person’s chances to survive.
When a person stops breathing, every second counts. That’s why it’s so important that one of the first people who reach the victim can perform CPR without any hesitation. CPR training in NJ doesn’t just teach people how to perform CPR, which is relatively simple; it also provides each participant with the confidence they need to act decisively in an emergency situation.
Who Can Use CPR Training?
Everyone can benefit from learning how to perform CPR. It is not just something for lifeguards and medical professionals. Many businesses offer corporate onsite CPR training to their employees because it’s a great team-building exercise and increases the safety of every employee in the office. Most offices now have AED devices, which use electricity to restart the heart. During CPR training, employees can also learn how to use these devices which can save someone who’s in sudden cardiac arrest.
CPR training in NJ is also popular among private citizens who want to be able to perform CPR for their family members and friends. When there is an emergency, it is very important that someone nearby can perform CPR immediately before the medical professionals arrive.
If you have family members with heart problems, children with congenital defects, or just want to be prepared for an emergency, CPR training is right for you. We provide different types of training and certification to give you the tools you need to save someone’s life. Contact us for more information about our next session of CPR training in NJ.
Sources:
http://lasvegassun.com/news/2015/jul/13/how-perform-adult-cpr/
]]>You’ve probably seen defibrillators used on dozens of medical TV shows and in movies. A doctor or medical professional will yell, “Clear!” and a powerful jolt of electricity brings the person magically back to life. Have you ever actually wondered how the defibrillator works and why a jolt of electricity can restore someone’s heartbeat? Though television can sometimes make it seem as simple as jump – starting a car, a defibrillator is a very advanced piece of technology and training can make operating it much easier.
Fortunately, many corporate onsite CPR training courses provide first aid and AED training in addition to CPR training. Learning more about AED technology can help you better understand when you can use it to save someone’s life, and in combination with corporate onsite CPR training, you’ll have the preparation you need to respond during an emergency.
The Electrical System of the Heart
Though it may sound strange, every person’s heart is controlled by electrical signals within their body. Most organs are controlled by electrical signals that are sent through the nervous system from the brain, but the heart actually has its own source of electrical signals. These electrical signals spread from the top of the heart to the bottom and make the muscles in the heart contract. The rhythm of this contraction, also known as the heartbeat, pumps blood throughout the body at a steady rate.
Without constant pumping of blood, a person’s organs and brain won’t receive the oxygen they need and will start to fail. When a person’s heart stops beating, it is called sudden cardiac arrest, and this is when an AED, or automated external defibrillator, can save a person’s life. With corporate onsite CPR training, you will be able to identify these situations and respond immediately to increase the person’s chance of survival. According to some studies, using an AED and performing CPR can double a person’s chance to survive.
Irregular Heart Rhythms
Why does sudden cardiac arrest occur? Though most people’s hearts have electrical systems that work correctly, some people’s hearts do not receive the right type of electrical signals. This affects the rhythm and rate of their contractions and makes sudden cardiac arrest more likely.
Heart rhythms that are not normal are called arrhythmias. Ventricular fibrillation is a common type of arrhythmia that causes the bottom of the heart to beat irregularly. Ventricular tachycardia is another type of arrhythmia affecting the chambers in the bottom of the heart, and both of these arrhythmias can cause sudden cardiac arrest. Arrhythmias can occur in all types of people, and many are not even aware that something is wrong with their heart. Completing corporate onsite CPR training can prepare you for when these emergencies occur unexpectedly.
Using an AED
When someone is experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, an AED might be able to save their life. The electrical signal sent by the device can get the heart beating at the right rhythm again. With its built-in computer, an AED can measure a person’s heartbeat, or lack thereof, and determine if an electric shock is needed. The device’s computer will also be able to determine what type of electric shock is necessary and give instructions so that it’s used correctly.
During this type of emergency, corporate onsite CPR training can ensure that someone knows how to respond and can respond immediately. Every second counts, so it’s important to have people who are trained and prepared. Using an AED correctly can increase a person’s chance of survival to 75%. If you are interested in learning more about AEDs and corporate onsite CPR training, contact us today.
Sources:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/aed
http://heartsine.com/2012/12/how-does-an-automated-external-defibrillator-work/
]]>First things first, can you tell the difference between cardiac arrest and a heart attack?
Cardiac arrest is a disturbance in the firing of electrical nodes within the heart which catalyze the heartbeat. This results in arrhythmia or an irregular heartbeat. Within seconds of the heart ceasing to function, a person will become unresponsive and barely able to breathe.
Death will occur within minutes if treatment is not administered immediately.
CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, forces oxygen into the lungs that is then circulated by simulating a “pumping” action on the chest. This process must continue until the patient is able to breathe on his or her own, or until first responders arrive on the scene. If an AED, or Automated External Defibrillator, is available, this is a life-saving tool that provides direct electrical shock to the heart.
The AHA recommends early defibrillation within the first three minutes of a cardiac arrest.
A heart attack, on the other hand, may begin with a feeling of weakness, nausea or numbness from decreased circulation due to a blocked artery. Although the patient may collapse from pain or weakness, or appear unresponsive, it is not appropriate to begin CPR as the heart is still beating (although faintly) and the person may still be able to breathe on his or her own.
CPR training is indispensable for your family and your workplace. These lifesaving techniques can only be applied if you are there – ready and willing – to identify the problem and to take action. Contact us to design a training session for you and your family that will give you the tools and the confidence you will need at a moments notice.
(1) http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/General/Cardiac-Arrest-versus-Heart-Attack-Infographic_UCM_450698_SubHomePage.jsp
]]>A too fast, or chaotic heart rhythm (ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, respectively) can both lead to cardiac arrest. Off-screen, using an external defibrillator is rarely accompanied by a musical score – and it is often not even in a hospital setting. Initiating immediate treatment before the arrival of EMT professionals can be the difference between life and death. Our classes teach you how and what to do.
The fact is you don’t need Hollywood magic or a medical degree to save a life: you just need a little training and the right equipment, an automatic external defibrillator (AED). These portable, electronic devices not only diagnose someones heart rhythm, they determine if an electric current is needed and they administer it! The machine walks the user through the process step by simple step with electronic voice or visual prompts. Couple that with proper cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training and you are now someone who can save a life.
For more information on this topic, and our class schedules, please visit our website or contact us
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Swedish physiologists Jean-Louis Prévost and Frédéric Batelli are credited with inventing the world’s first defibrillator in 1899. During their experiments, they concluded that small electric shocks could produce ventricular fibrillation but larger ones could have the opposite effect by restarting the heart. Prévost and Batelli’s defibrillator, however, was restricted for use in veterinarian practices.
It wasn’t until 1947 when professor Claude Beck of Case Western Reserve University used the defibrillator on a human for the first time. Beck was performing open heart surgery on a young boy who suffered from a congenital heart defect when the boy’s heart stopped. Beck and his team of assistants manually massaged the boy’s heart for nearly an hour before eventually using a defibrillator to promote a normal sinus rhythm. The success of this practice laid the groundwork for future surgeons and cardiologists, essentially showing the world that defibrillation can save lives.
These early model defibrillator ran off alternating current (AC) power from a nearby wall outlet (usually between 300-100o volts of electricity), and they were only useful during open heart surgery. This greatly restricted their utility, but it wasn’t before new, high-tech models hit the medical field.
Irish professor Frank Pantridge of Belfast made a ground-breaking developing in defibrillators during the 1960s by turning these otherwise bulky units into compact, easy-to-transport models. While the design and features of portable defibrillators have undergone a serious of chances since then, its purpose remains the same: to provide a jolt of electricity to a cardiac arrest victim’s heart in an effort to create a normal sinus rhythm. The portable defibrillator is a staple tool used by Emergency Medical Service (EMS) workers.
Modern-day science has opened up a whole new world of possibilities for defibrillator. One of the most recent advancements in this field includes the use of biphasic waveform. By alternating pulse directions, biphasic defibrillators tend to have a higher success rate. A small study found the success rate of ventricular fibrillation (VF) to be 60%, whereas the success rate of biphasic defibrillation was 90%.
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