Being a bystander during a medical emergency can be scary. However, by learning how to do CPR through the Illinois Heart Rescue program, you can learn how to save a life in less than 5 minutes. If ever faced with a situation where someone experiencing a cardiac arrest, you will feel a sense of calm knowing you understand the basics of CPR and how to serve as an essential “link” in the chain of survival until medical help is available.
Do you want to know how to do CPR? If so, this blog post is for you! As a bystander in an emergency situation, knowing the basics of CPR can be empowering. We’ll discuss our insight into why you should learn how to do CPR, and just how easy it can be.
The first thing to remember when wondering how to do CPR is that you don’t need a fancy certification. Many think that learning CPR involves a long, dreary 2-hour class. However, that is not the case. Check out any one of our videos and you can learn the basics in as little as 5 minutes. It’s as easy as that- and it’s so important that laypeople know how to do CPR. Don’t be afraid to intervene!
Lay people are the most important link in the chain of survival. The chain of survival is another way of describing the groups of people/organizations a victim of cardiac arrest encounters that can improve their chance of living. From bystanders to 911-dispatch, EMS professionals to hospitals- every link plays a pivotal role in survival outcomes after a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
In the moments after a person suffers an SCA, bystanders play a critical role in determining the victims’ fate, even more so than paramedics or doctors/nurses. Often, bystanders are the only ones on the scene and available in those critical first minutes after an SCA occurs. That is one of the many reasons why learning how to do CPR is so important. For every single minute that CPR is not performed, the chance of survival decreases by 10%!
Knowledge is power, and when it comes to knowing CPR, you just have to be willing to learn and willing to act. Illinois Heart Rescue offers free online video resources as well as programming for communities, schools, hospitals, EMS agencies, and any other organization that wants to provide a strong link in the chain of survival. We can teach you how to save a life in 5 minutes- no certification necessary!
If you’re wondering how to perform CPR, chest compressions, use an AED, and more- we can help! Let us teach you these lifesaving skills today so you can be empowered and prepared for your loved ones, colleagues, or even a stranger. Contact us today or explore our videos to learn more.