Twice a year the Knoxville Chamber hosts their networking event, Schmooz-A-Palooza! CPR Choice has attended the event several times but this year we will be participating as an exhibitor! Get ready for one of Knoxville’s best business networking events.  Come visit our CPR Choice booth!  We will be demonstrating Hands-Only CPR as well as giving away some free stuff!   

What: Knoxville’s Schmooz-A-Palooza Networking event
When: March 3rd, 4-7PM
Where: Knoxville Expo Center, 5441 Clinton Highway, Knoxville, TN, 37912
Why: Networking!  Learn why CPR Choice is Knoxville’s best choice for CPR training
How: Register on the Knoxville Chamber Website, $5 members or $10 non-members

CPR Choice provides CPR, AED, First Aid, and Safety training to government, corporate and school sectors, industry, private enterprise, and small business as well as individuals. We deliver high-quality classes and provide certifications through the American Heart Association and American Safety & Health Institute.

Our mission is to SAVE LIVES!  Whether you request our training programs on-site, or visit one of our locations, we are available for you, at your convenience.  Come learn about our Knoxville CPR classes!

#SchmoozKnox

Did you know – 1 in 3 women die of heart disease and stroke every year and approximately 80% is preventable!

In 2004, the American Heart Association (AHA) created Go Red for Women^® campaign to provide education, support and increase funding for heart disease and treatment. One of the major events from the Go Red for Women^® campaign includes the National Wear Red Day^®! Every year since the National Wear Red Day^® was introduced Americans are challenged to wear red, paint your community red, and create activities to focus on helping save women’s lives through support, research and funding.

The AHA can boast about some major shifts in the lives of women since their program was developed.
Here are a few accomplishments:

• Almost 90% of women have made at least one healthy modification
• Exercise has increased and weight has been lost
• Fewer women are dying from heart disease and stroke
• Death rates have decreased by more than 30%

Continue this tradition by helping us raise awareness to end this killer of women. Celebrate National Wear Red Day^® with Go Red for Women^® on Friday, Feb 6, 2015. It’s easy and fun to participate and the best part is help give back to your family and community.

Here’s some ways you can help:

1. Wear RED to show your support!
2. Share your RED! Use the hashtag #GoRed on all social media
3. Donate to help raise money for awareness and research.
4. Learn CPR and AED Functionality -CPR Choice is your source to learn the skills needed to save a life!  It is a very small price to pay versus watching the ones you love pass in front of you. Sign up for a CPR course in Knoxville or the Tri-Cities today!  Teaching CPR is more than our job; it is saving lives.

Visit GoRedforWomen.org for more information including fundraising, how to donate and utilize free tools and resources to make this National Wear Red Day^® the best one yet!

The color RED, LOVE and HEARTS fill the month of February! February is American Heart Month and the entire month is devoted to helping people learn how to be heart healthy and reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke. Cardiovascular disease or CVD, which includes heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure, is the number 1 killer of women and men in the United States. CVD Is also the leading cause of disability, which prevent people from enjoying family activities and working.

In 2003 the American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung and Blood institute took action against heart disease, where the perception was it affected more men than women. Heart disease is now the #1 killer of women and both organizations are working hard to continue to increase awareness for both men and women.

What are the risks for Heart Disease?

• High blood cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Being inactive
• Smoking
• Diabetes and pre-diabetes
• Being overweight
• Family history of early heart disease
• Poor eating habits
• Age – men and women over the age of 55!

How do you lower your risk?

• Eat for your HEALTH! Eat a heart healthy diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, sodium and avoid added sugars.
• Move! Physical activity is a key to lowering your risk and helping you maintain or lose extra weight.
• Partner with your doctor! Make sure they know your family history, your lifestyle and openly communicate about your health, especially if you have a family history of heart disease.

Getting Heart Healthy requires small changes in your daily habits that will make a huge impact on you, your family and your healthy. Take control of your destiny and remember CPR Choice when it comes to learning some life-saving skills. CPR Choice offers classes in First Aid, CPR and AED Training. We have a passion for training people in the event of a medical situation.

Check out our CPR training calendar and sign up for a class today in Knoxville, Maryville, or Tri-Cities! CPR Choice also offers CPR training on-site at your location.  Learn CPR in the comfort of your office or home!

Seems like everyone around you is SICK! How can you strengthen your immune system’s defense again viruses and bacterial infections that cause conditions like the common cold or flu. We know everyone will and can get sick, even the healthiest people. We wanted to share a few ways to support your immune system the natural way.

1. 8 hours of sleep is a requirement!   Sleep helps the body regulate the immune system. It’s critical you get enough rest before you get sick.
2. Focus on hygiene.   According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, washing your hands is the best way to steer clear of an illness. Washing your hands should take you at least 15-20 seconds, using warm water and soap. Seems silly to remind you, but you should always wash your hands prior to preparing food or eating and after you cough, sneeze or use the restroom.
3. Relieve your stress. Studies have shown that prolonged stress has a negative impact on a person’s immune system.   Incorporate stress relieving techniques in your daily routine – those can include yoga, meditation or cuddling with a loved one.
4. Moderate exercise is the key! Working out on a regular basis can help mobilize your T cells, which are a type of white blood cells known to guard the body against infections. Moderate exercise includes a brisk walk for an average of about 30 minutes a day. Easy enough and not only fights against illness, but also helps you stay fit and mentally in balance.
5. Diet- seems like it all comes down to what we eat! Antioxidants are essential to supporting our immune systems.   Antioxidants fight the free radicals, which are chemical by products know to damage DNA and suppress the immune system. To continue to fight the free radicals- make sure your diet is rich in fruits and vegetables. Also for another immune boost, add garlic and ginger to your diet.   Garlic has virus-fighting and bacteria-killing properties, while ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory. And don’t forget the importance of water! It helps keep infections at bay by flushing out your system.

CPR Choice cares about your well-being. Incorporate these tips into your every day to help you stay healthy!  

Heart disease is the number one killer in American. Let me say it again—the NUMBER ONE killer and in most cases we can avoid or decrease our chances of developing this disease. Heart disease occurs when the arteries that supply the heart with blood, oxygen and any nutrients start to narrow. The narrowing is a result of a buildup of cholesterol fatty deposits inside the arterial walls. The buildup, also known as plaque, clogs up the arteries creating blockages therefore restricting oxygenated blood to get to the heart.

Lower your risk today by adopting the following habits:

1. Stop smoking and don’t start! Smoking is the leading preventable cause of heart disease in women. Chemicals in the tobacco can damage your heart and blood vessels, leading to atherosclerosis, which is narrowing of the arteries. This leads to a heart attack. Also, the carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke replaces some of the oxygen in your blood. This leads to higher blood pressures and forces your heart to work harder. Bottom line- stop smoking! The good news is once you stop your risk of heart disease drops significantly over the years. By the 5^th year of non-smoking you are almost back to a non-smoker status!
2. Eat a heart healthy diet. Plan ahead, do some research and find a heart healthy diet for you and your family to follow. It’s not really about cutting back but making better choices- for you and your loved ones. By eating the right foods YOU can manage so many things, for example control your weight, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol. To get you started here’s some additional tips:
   1. Add plenty of fruits and vegetables to your daily food routine, especially those green leafy vegetables and vitamin C rich items. Your goal should be at least 10 servings a day. And fruits and vegetables have an added bonus- not only do they help prevent heart disease, they may also help prevent cancer and improve diabetes.
   2. Don’t forget whole grains and fiber.
   3. Watch your sodium intake– eating at home is the best way to manage the amount of sodium you eat!
3. MOVE! Regular exercise can help prevent your risk of fatal heart disease. When you combine exercise with the other tips we have provided you will reap so many benefits, such as helping your body reduce insulin resistance and providing you with endorphins that lift your mood! A brisk 30 minute will do wonders for your body and mind!
4. Maintain a healthy weight. Carrying extra weight, especially around your mid-section increases your risk of heart disease. It can also open the door to additional health issues such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Avoid the word “diet” – look for ways to make lifestyle changes. Make good food choices and learn to fuel your body the right way!
5. Sleep! Did you know that sleep deprivation increases your stress hormones, raises your blood pressure and can affect your blood sugar levels? Adequate sleep is crucial to our proper brain function, basically we need time to decompress and prepare mentally and physically for the next day. We need at least 8 hours of restful sleep a night. We have adopted the following strategies to help us get a good night’s sleep:
   1. Get on a schedule to help you keep regular sleep hours.
   2. Meditate before going to bed, focus on lowering your heart rate and relaxing.
   3. Exercise daily but limit exercise to at least 4 hours prior to bedtime.
   4. Avoid caffeine, alcohol or any other stimulant 4 hours before bedtime.
   5. Avoid watching TV before bedtime.

The risk is real! Heart disease will affect a member of your family, a co-worker, an associate- the question is are you prepared to help in the event of a medical emergency. CPR Choice offers classes in First Aid, CPR and AED Training.  We have a passion for training people in the event of a medical situation. Check out our CPR training calendar and sign up for a class today in Knoxville, Maryville, or Tri-Cities! CPR Choice also offers training on-site at your location.  Learn CPR in the comfort of your office or home!

When you attend a CPR class at CPR Choice you will receive an American Heart Association CPR card. This CPR card is proof of your knowledge of the skills and life saving techniques that were taught in your CPR course. Upon successful completion, CPR Choice will distribute each participant with one card.  Many employers require that you have a CPR card.

So what happens if you lose your official AHA CPR card or if it’s stolen? 
No problem. We know accidents happen. Fear not, CPR Choice can help! Our records will show when and where you took your last CPR class with CPR Choice and we can replace your card for you! Complete the form here.

A small $7 fee is required, to cover our costs. We will collect payment via PayPal or Credit Card on the checkout page after you add the correct card to your cart. The card will be replaced with an identical expiration date and certification as the one that was lost and certified to the same individual matching our records.

Please provide the approximate date you attended our class in the notes section of the checkout page. We will use the information you provide and match it up with the records in our database to generate a replacement AHA CPR card for you.

Once your data is confirmed, your card will be mailed within 48 hours to the address provided. If we cannot verify your information, we will contact you and process a refund. If you need an express confirmation, we can scan and email a copy of your card to you in addition to sending out the replacement, upon request. Please contact us at 865-548-1500 or info@cprchoice.com if you have any questions.

Thanks for choosing CPR Choice. The Choice is Yours! Learn CPR, Save Lives. Your Source For:

• On-site CPR training for your staff
• Adult CPR certification
• Pediatric CPR certification
• Infant CPR certification
• Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers
• Heartsaver First Aid classes
• Automated External Defibrillator (AED) sales, management & training
• American Heart Association courses in East Tennessee
• CPR Training in Knoxville, TN
• CPR Training in Tri-Cities (Bristol, Johnson City, Kingsport), TN

Victims of drowning usually do not thrash in the water as often made out to be in the movies.  Most victims are found floating or submerged in the water.  Victims may not be able to call for help because they are using all of their energy trying to breathe or keep their head above water. When water is inhaled, the upper airway may go into a spasm also making it difficult to cry for help.

Signs of drowning :

• The victim does not flail and thrash in the water. Instead, drowning tends to be a quieter act, and victims tend to appear lethargic or are found unresponsive floating on the water, or submerged beneath it.
• The drowning victim often is bobbing with their head tilted back just at the waterline and the mouth wide open. There are attempts to keep rolling on to the back.
• The respiratory effort may be rapid but is often shallow.
• The eyes tend to be wide open and may hold a sense of panic.
• If there is a swimming effort, it is weak and uncoordinated.

In a drowning emergency, the sooner the victim is removed from the water and first aid is administered, the greater opportunity the victim has for surviving.