Woman practicing cpr on an infant practice dummy

CPR Resource Center

The most comprehensive library of emergency training resources — including videos, articles, downloads, and more.

Emergency Cardiac Care News Digest - December 20 2024

Emergency Cardiac Care News Digest is an assortment of current events and news related to emergency cardiac care and resuscitation. Produced by Code One Training Solutions, Emergency Cardiac Care News Digest is published every Friday throughout the year.

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.

-Winston Churchill

“Shrink back is not my intention”: a qualitative exploration of Chinese security guards’ experiences with bystander CPR

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a major public health burden worldwide. Promoting bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (B-CPR) is a key element in improving the survival rate of OHCA. The security guard is a specific population in China that plays a significant role as bystanders in public settings. However, less is known about their experiences regarding B-CPR intention and performance. This study aimed to explore the experiences and perspectives of Chinese security guards regarding B-CPR and identify barriers to its performance.
In this study, in-depth interviews were conducted with security guards in various public settings, including hospitals, residential living areas, office buildings, and public transportation stations. All interviews were audio recorded. Two researchers independently analyzed the transcripts through deductive and inductive content analysis. Informed by the “Intention-focused” model of B-CPR performance, deductive content analysis was initially performed to identify categories that align with the theoretical framework and thereby validate the theory. Subsequently, inductive content analysis was applied to code newly discovered content, therefore enriching the theory.

Learn about the findings: https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-024-20888-w

North East police stepping in to give medical aid, help relieve EMS crisis

As the nationwide crisis affecting emergency medical services (EMS) continues to cause increased response times and delays in receiving lifesaving care, the North East Police Department has found an innovative way to collaborate with local entities to help. It’s all about getting the quickest care to the patients in their time of need. Over the last several months, we have explored partnerships to set up a program where the patrolmen, properly trained, will be able to first respond to additional medical incidents and assist with expediting patient care in critical situations.
The partnership referenced is between the VFW Post 4789, the North East Fire Department and the North East Police Department. The VFW Post, along with its auxiliary and club, are donating funds that will allow the purchase of equipment, including bags, assessment equipment, bandaging supplies and an automated external defibrillator (AED) for the patrolman on duty to keep in their patrol vehicle. “We are happy to help such a worthy cause to contribute to the well-being of the community,” Post Commander Mike Hamman of VFW Post 4789 told me. The equipment that is utilized on calls will be the same as the equipment used by the Crescent Hose Company. “Any equipment used will be replaced on a one-for-one exchange to keep the program expenses down,” said Chief Jack DiOrazio III of the North East Fire Department.
Read the story: https://www.goerie.com/story/opinion/columns/2024/12/18/north-east-police-ems-crisis-fire-volunteer-collaboration/76759630007/

Mass training event set to break records and save lives

In what is thought to be the largest UK corporate training event of its kind, social enterprise and leisure operator GLL will be hosting a mass ‘How to Save a Life” resuscitation training event for 4,000 staff on 19th December 2024.
The event comes as GLL has registered as ResusReady with Resuscitation Council UK, reflecting the organisation’s commitment to installing defibrillators within the facilities it operates and providing associated skills training.
In addition, GLL is in the process of registering the location of all its defibrillators on “The Circuit”, the national defibrillator network that provides NHS ambulance services with vital information about defibrillators across the UK so that they can be accessed quickly to help save lives.
In 2011 GLL became the first UK leisure operator to install defibrillators as part of a joint initiative with the London Ambulance Service and the British Heart Foundation.
Today, defibrillators are found in each of the 260 sports venues, leisure centres and gyms it operates under the ‘Better’ brand. Staff are trained to use the devices as part of GLL’s emergency response and first aid procedures.

Source: https://www.gll.org/b2b/newsitems/mass-training-event-set-to-break-records-and-save-lives

Who We Play For to Host World’s Largest CPR/AED Training During Surfing and Santas on Christmas Eve

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Who We Play For, a national non-profit organization founded in Cocoa Beach, is teaming up with the globally recognized, community-driven tradition, Surfing Santas as on Christmas Eve morning each year, thousands flock to the sand and waves on Cocoa Beach dressed like Santa
This year, they’ll also get the chance to help set a new world record and learn lifesaving skills.
Who We Play For’s mission is to eliminate preventable Sudden Cardiac Death in the young, a leading cause of death among surfers and a leading cause of death in the United States.
Supported by surfing world champions, Who We Play For empowers the surfing community by bringing life-saving education to the more than 10,000 attendees at Surfing Santas.

Video story: https://spacecoastdaily.com/2024/12/who-we-play-for-to-host-worlds-largest-cpr-aed-training-during-surfing-and-santas-on-christmas-eve/

Alexandria officer and cardiac arrest survivor saves man’s life with AED she just received hours before

After losing all vital signs, a man was brought back from the brink of death because of the quick action by an Alexandria police officer and a device she had been given just a couple of hours earlier.
”I think I’m still trying to process it,” said Alexandria officer Whitney Buerger. ”I don’t think I really realized, like, the magnitude of it until I got off shift that day.”
It began with a call for help.
“The call came out that there was a male unresponsive on the floor and that the family was starting compressions,” Buerger said.
She was first on the scene, arriving in less than five minutes, but she was afraid it might be too late.

AED in gym during HISD’s Marshall Middle student’s death had expired pads in yearly inspection

The automated external defibrillator stationed in HISD’s Marshall Middle School gym during Landon Payton’s medical emergency Aug. 14 was flagged for expired pads in an inspection months before his death, according to records obtained by the Chronicle.
A technician contracted for annual inspections performed May 3 noted that its adult electrode pads had expired four months earlier on Jan. 1. HISD did not confirm whether the parts had been replaced or whether the AED was working at the time of Payton’s death, although a quote for replacement parts addressed to Marshall Middle School is listed at the bottom of the document.
Shortly after his death, local teachers’ unions said Marshall Middle School staff told them the AED was not working at the time, a claim repeated by the family’s lawyer.
“This confirms what we already knew, that the school district did not keep up with the maintenance of the AEDs,” Tritico told the Chronicle Friday. “This instance with the pads being expired is some indication that the machine was not functioning properly.”

Featured Student: Violet Howard, CPR Hero

Liberty High School Health Education teacher Stephenie Fink shared an amazing story about one of her students – sophomore Violet Howard – and how she put her learning into action to help save a man’s life: “Recently, we completed our Injury and Safety Prevention Unit, which included training on how to perform CPR. During a practical exercise, Violet shared with me that she had to use these skills in a real-life emergency over Thanksgiving break. While driving with her mom, she witnessed a man collapse on the sidewalk. With remarkable composure, she pulled over and assisted her mother in calling 911. Violet bravely performed CPR on the victim, who was purple and not breathing. Thanks to her quick thinking and training, the man began to regain color and even started breathing with a weak pulse before medical professionals arrived. I am incredibly proud of Violet and believe her actions deserve recognition.” We couldn’t agree more, Ms. Fink! Outstanding job, Violet! You are a shining example of what makes us Proud to be HSD!

Source: https://www.hsd.k12.or.us/details/~board/district-news/post/featured-student-violet-howard-cpr-hero

Santa Learns CPR

POST FALLS — Santa Claus is getting hands-on this holiday season to try and save lives.
Kootenai County Fire and Rescue helped teach CPR to about 4,000 people last year, but they’re hoping to make the skill less intimidating by partnering with Northwest Specialty Hospital and Post Falls ER and Hospital to host holiday drop-in training sessions.
Fifth grader Ayla McKinzie and Santa teamed up to learn hands-only CPR together Thursday night at the first of two sessions offered this week. The second session takes place from 9 a.m. to noon today at the Kootenai County Fire and Rescue training facility on Seltice Way.
“Santa needs to learn CPR,” the man in red could be heard booming out in the lobby of Kootenai Fire’s training facility.
McKinzie and Santa talked about presents and how the sleigh could use a little more snow for a less bumpy landing before Tony Blasick, an engineer at Kootenai County Fire, walked them through proper CPR techniques.
Fire Chief Chris Way said the department is taking a more direct approach, bringing CPR practices to the greater North Idaho community by hosting quarterly events.

Learn more: https://cdapress.com/news/2024/dec/14/santa-does-cpr/

ENCORE! Bolton firefighter collapses during call, CPR saves victim and firefighter

BOLTON, Conn. (WFSB) – A Bolton firefighter is alive tonight thanks to the quick action of his colleagues.That firefighter became the patient during a recent call and lived to tell about it.
Steve Clark and Dave are two men from Bolton with similar stories to tell.
“I was sitting in a chair and all of a sudden I just blacked out,” said Dave.
First responders were called to Dave’s house on Brandy Street on October 9.
“As I walked in, he wasn’t breathing, he did not have a pulse. I said to Chief Dixon, ‘Call a code,’” said Chuck Rexroad, EMT Instructor, Bolton Fire Department.
More emergency crews arrived, including firefighter Steve Clark.
“I started to feel a little lightheaded. I went to brace myself and that’s pretty much what I remember,” said Steve.

Video and print story link: https://www.wfsb.com/2024/12/11/bolton-firefighter-collapses-during-call-cpr-saves-victim-firefighter/

ENCORE! Walking in a rhythmic wonderland with holiday songs that could help save lives

When you hear a favorite holiday tune, you might not immediately connect it with CPR.
But there’s an easy-to-understand reason why you might want to start, said Dr. John W. Hafner, a clinical professor of emergency medicine at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine Peoria.
“You can really save a life just by doing simple chest compressions and pushing hard and pushing fast,” he said. “And music can help you remember how fast is fast.”
According to American Heart Association estimates, each year in the United States, roughly 350,000 people not in hospitals have a cardiac arrest, where the heart suddenly stops beating. CPR, if performed immediately, can double or triple a person’s odds of survival by sending blood to the brain and other vital organs. But only an estimated 40% of people receive bystander CPR.
The first steps in performing CPR don’t involve music. “Anytime someone collapses, and you can’t wake them up, you need to immediately contact 911,” Hafner said. Dispatchers can walk you through the steps of giving CPR, even if you haven’t been trained.

Continue reading: https://www.heart.org/en/news/2024/12/11/walking-in-a-rhythmic-wonderland-with-holiday-songs-that-could-help-save-lives

ENCORE! Local medical professionals debunk viral ‘Cough CPR’ advice

PADUCAH — Local medical officials sat down Tuesday morning to debunk popular social media advice about heart attacks and coughing. That advice, called “Cough CPR,” has medical professionals taking to social media to clear misinformation.
Cough CPR advises people experiencing chest pain or other heart attack symptoms to cough multiple times very hard until they can get medical help.
“Cough and CPR are really two totally separate terms, meaning, CPR means cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and coughing in no way does CPR,” said Vedran Oruc.
Oruc is a cardiac electrophysiologist at Baptist Health Paducah. He noted that in some cases, coughing could be helpful.
“There are certain types of rhythm problems that can respond to things like coughing or bearing down. We call these vagal maneuvers, and there are some benign or non-life-threatening rhythm problems that can potentially improve with these sorts of treatments. That being said, there are a lot of other rhythm problems or other heart conditions that don’t respond well to maneuvers like this, meaning that if someone’s having a heart attack, or if someone’s having a life-threatening rhythm problem, coughing will not help with those sorts of conditions,” he said.

Source: https://www.wpsdlocal6.com/news/local-medical-professionals-debunk-viral-cough-cpr-advice/article_87cfdebc-b741-11ef-95aa-b7561974c2aa.html

‘I died at a football match but CPR saved me’

A football fan who almost died after he had a cardiac arrest at his home ground has encouraged others to learn life-saving CPR.
Michael Bull, 69, fell seriously ill at a Lincoln City football match in 2018 when he collapsed in the car park.
He has joined the national campaign Every Minute Matters which aims to teach people the emergency procedure.
Mr Bull told the BBC that cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) “can literally save a life.”
Mr Bull said he had watched his team beat Exeter City 3-2 at Sincil Bank when he blacked out in the car park.
A friend found him and called for help, and within 30 seconds nearby police officers were performing CPR.
Other first responders and paramedics later used a defibrillator on him.
‘I was dead’

Continue: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwy4680gl94o

Celebrities can spark change when they speak up about their health

One day, when actor and comedian Rosie O’Donnell was in her 50s, her body ached and her arms felt sore, but she pushed through the pain, not realizing she was having a massive heart attack. She had surgery to put in a stent that saved her life.
Shortly after her 2012 heart attack, O’Donnell shared her experience on her blog. During her 2015 television standup special, she spoke about how the experience changed her life. The segment included a heart attack acronym the comedian coined: HEPPP (hot, exhausted, pain, pale, puke).
O’Donnell’s candidness about her heart attack helped spread awareness about how it can present differently in women. She’s one of countless celebrities over the years who have opened up about their health conditions, including breast cancer, HIV, depression, heart disease and stroke. When celebrities reveal and discuss their health issues, the impact can be far-reaching. It not only helps to educate the public, but it also can reduce stigma and inspire others.
“Health disclosures by celebrities do matter, and we know this from decades of research across a lot of different health conditions and public figures,” said Dr. Jessica Gall Myrick, a professor of health communication at Pennsylvania State University in University Park. “They absolutely do influence people.”
Full story: https://www.heart.org/en/news/2024/12/13/celebrities-can-spark-change-when-they-speak-up-about-their-health

VIDEO PICK: Behind the scenes with Ken Jeong and an AHA Hands-Only CPR Video

SPOTLIGHT: HEARTSafe Community

Becoming a HEARTSafe Community means establishing proactive steps to protect your residents from sudden cardiac arrest. This community-based quality improvement model focuses on the importance of leadership, collaboration, strategy and tactics in improving cardiac arrest survival in the community through the systematic implementation of 13 specific recommendations or process measures that are based on current science and innovative best practices.

Learn more here: https://citizencpr.org/heartsafe-community/

Feel free to email david@code1web.com

Sign Up