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National CPR and AED Awareness Week
June 1-7, 2008

Congress passed a bill that designates the first week in June as National CPR and AED awareness week. This bill brings needed awareness to the staggering number of sudden cardiac arrest victims that could possibly be saved by training bystanders in the use of automatic external defibrillators (AED) and CPR.

Here are some current facts obtained from the Library of Congress and the complete bill:

Approximately 325,000 people die a year due to coronary heart disease while out of hospital or in an emergency room

Approximately 95% of these victims die before arriving at the hospital

In only 27.4% of cases of sudden cardiac arrest the victim is located in a place other than a hospital and receives cardiopulmonary resuscitation by a bystander

Prompt delivery of cardiopulmonary resuscitation more than doubles the chance of survival from sudden cardiac arrest by helping to maintain vital blood flow to the heart and brain, increasing the amount of time that an electric shock from a defibrillator can be effective

Using an automatic external defibrillator is safe, easy and very effective when used immediately after the onset of sudden cardiac arrest. For each minute that passes after sudden cardiac arrest the victims chances of survival decreases by approximately 10%. From the time a victim collapses it may take an ambulance 5-10 minutes to arrive on scene. In some rural areas the response times may even be longer.

It is important that everyone learns how to perform CPR and use an AED. Adults and children of all ages are able to learn these skills and possible help save a life. Sign up to take your class today.