Imagine that a friend or family member has a heart attack in your presence. Would you know what to do? Yes, call 911. But what else? Would you be able to keep your loved one alive until the paramedics arrive? 80% of heart attacks occur in the home and are witnessed by a family member. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) can be learned and used by almost anyone and it doubles the survival rate from a heart attack.
In the time it takes you to read this information, sudden cardiac arrest will have claimed another victim. Statistics show that more than 200,000 Americans die of sudden cardiac arrest every year. Up to 50,000 of these deaths could have been prevented if someone had initiated the Cardiac Chain of Survival, and an automated external defibrillator (AED) had been available for immediate use at the time of the emergency.
Choking occurs when a foreign object becomes lodged in the throat or windpipe, blocking the flow of air. In adults, a piece of food often is the culprit. Young children often swallow small objects. Because choking cuts off oxygen to the brain, you need to administer first aid as quickly as possible.