Nearly 90 percent of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die. Some 88 percent of cardiac arrests occur at home. CPR, especially if performed in the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, can double or triple a person's chance of survival. So, the life you save with CPR is most likely to be someone you love.
If you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse, call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of any tune that is 100-120 beats per minute.
When calling 911, you will be asked for your location. Be specific, especially if you're calling from a mobile phone, as they are not associated with a fixed address.
Answering the dispatcher's questions will not delay the arrival of help. As a bystander, don't be afraid. Your actions can only help.
Why learn CPR?
Cardiac arrest – an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, and disrupts the flow of blood to the brain, lungs and other organs – is a leading cause of death. Each year, more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States.
When a person is in cardiac arrest, survival depends on immediately getting CPR from someone nearby. Almost 90 percent of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die. CPR, especially if performed in the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.
Be the difference for someone you love
If you are called on to give CPR in an emergency, you will most likely be trying to save the life of someone you love: a child, a spouse, a parent or a friend. 70 percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in homes. Unfortunately, only about 46% of people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest get the immediate help that they need before professional help arrives.
Music can help save lives
During CPR, you should push on the chest at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. The beat of “Stayin’ Alive” is a perfect match for this.
