Dallas-based American Heart Association launches video-based CPR training

by PegNews wire

The American Heart Association encourages you to learn to save the life of a loved one or someone in your community: Get instructions on administering Hands-Only CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) via a free online video in Spanish and English.

The video, recently created by the American Heart Association, is located here.

"Without immediate CPR, a person's chance of survival is low," said Ismael Nuno, M.D., a cardiac surgeon at Los Angeles County University of Southern California Medical Center and American Heart Association spokesperson. "In some areas, it may take awhile for EMS to arrive. Many times in an emergency, people aren't sure how to do CPR, don't remember the steps or haven't been trained.

"It is critical that Hispanics spread the word in their communities about watching the online video and learning CPR, because a person in cardiac arrest only has a few minutes to receive treatment before they die."

Cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops beating effectively. A victim of a cardiac arrest may collapse, stop normal breathing and become unconscious. Many victims of cardiac arrest appear healthy and haven't been diagnosed with a heart condition. Cardiac arrest can be caused by a heart attack or other heart problems, electrocution, drowning, choking or drug overdose.

According to the American Heart Association, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) treats about 300,000 people each year in the United States for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. About 92% of people who have a cardiac arrest outside the hospital die. About half of cardiac deaths in Hispanics are due to cardiac arrest, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (Feb. 15, 2002 issue/51(06).

The American Heart Association recommends Hands-Only CPR if you see someone suddenly collapse and they are unresponsive. The steps are easy: Call 9-1-1 immediately and push hard and fast on the center of the chest until professional help arrives. The AHA recommends CPR with breaths for all infants and children, for adult victims who are found already unconscious and not breathing normally, and for any victims of drowning or collapse due to breathing problems.

Songs that have 100 beats per minute may help you remember how fast to push on the chest during CPR. The songs, including "Bailamos" by Enrique Iglesias, have the same rhythm needed to properly give 100 chest compressions per minute.

For free information about Hispanics and heart disease, risk factors, prevention and CPR, visit americanheart.org and click on "Espanol" or call 800-AHA-1212.

Source: American Heart Association