April 2015 - CPR Choice KnoxvilleCPR Choice Knoxville

Personal Trainers need CPR training

April 26, 2015 Cheryl Smith AED, Awareness and Prevention, Business, CPR, CPR Classes, CPR Training 0 Comments

As personal trainers , you’ve made the decision to go into the growing and ever evolving world of exercise science. Cardiovascular training and weightlifting are important parts of keeping the heart and body healthy. However, it is important to understand the risks involved and be prepared to act should an emergency occur.

Exercise tolerance is defined as the ability of the cardiac, pulmonary, and vascular systems to meet the requirements generated by large muscle use. Simply put, can the body move enough oxygen to the muscles fast enough? If one system fails to keep up, your client could experience cardiac arrest and need CPR. While the goal is to better ones exercise tolerance, pushing someone too hard or to0 fast could be detrimental.

It is important for personal trainers to form a close relationship with all their clients in order to create a program within his or her functional physical capabilities. Ultimately, it is the trainer’s responsibility to understand your clients’ medical history and physical boundaries.

There are multiple ailments that may increase your clients risk of heart failure:

History of Heart Attack
History of Stroke
Poor bloodflow
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Poor aerobic metabolism (Inability of muscles to process oxygen)

Thorough understanding of CPR and the ability to act responsibly are critical in the moments between cardiac arrest and EMS arrival on scene. Immediate CPR and AED use could be the difference should a life and death situation present itself. We not only strongly urge personal trainers to receive CPR training, but most personal training certifications such as the American Council on Exercise (ACE) or the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) require it. Many gyms are also equipped with Automated External defibrillators (AED) and require personal trainers, fitness instructors and staff to be certified in both CPR & AED. Sign up for our Heartsaver CPR & AED course!

For more information on the correlation between exercise and heart failure, please visit the American Heart Association.

Epinephrine Pens

April 26, 2015 Cheryl Smith AED, Awareness and Prevention, CPR, CPR Classes, CPR Training, First Aid, First Aid + CPR Classes

Epinephrine Pens, or Epi Pens, are special syringes that are pre-filled with a prescription dose of epinephrine to be administered in the event of a severe allergic reaction. Epinephrine Pens can save the lives of people who suffer life threatening reactions to allergens such as bee stings, nuts and other foods. The dosage is often suited to the person whom it was prescribed. It is important for people who have been prescribed an Epinephrine Pen to always carry it with them and make sure co-workers, teachers and peers know how to administer it in the case of an emergency.

Operating an Epinephrine Pen is very straightforward.

The first step is to remove the safety cap (on the back).
The person administering the shot will hold the pen in their fist and push the needle end firmly into the victim in the side of the thigh muscle (between the hip and the knee).
Hold the epinephrine pen in place for ten seconds, taking care to not twist or move the needle.
After 10 seconds, the Epinephrine Pen is removed and a protective, safety sheath will cover the needle.
After giving the injection rub the area of the shot for 10 seconds, to help get the medication into the bloodstream.
One should also make note of the time the shot was delivered and then dispose of the Epinephrine Pen in a designated sharps container.

If at all possible, the person who is prescribed the Epinephrine Pen should deliver the shot to themselves, but in the event of a sudden, severe reaction, may need help. Advanced medical help should be notified and advised of the type of allergy, approximate time of the reaction and the time the epinephrine was administered. It is important to stay with the victim until medical help arrives. It may take a few minutes for the medicine to start working.

Sometimes the first exposure to an allergen may result in life threatening anaphylaxis reactions. Medical professionals also stress that delaying treatment with epinephrine in the case of the severe reactions is more likely to result in death. It is because of this warning, more schools are stocking extra Epi Pens and training personnel on their use. Tennessee passed legislation in 2013, joining 28 other states, to allow schools to keep epinephrine pens in stock and administer them in the case of an emergency.

Learn how to administer Epinephrine in one of our Heartsaver first aid classes. We also offer a Pediatric specific first aid class for daycares, churches, preschools and businesses working with children. Our first aid course covers a lot of subjects and will teach you what to do in an emergency.

Heartsaver CPR & First Aid Course curriculum:

Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Child & Infant CPR
Conscious & Unconscious Choking (Heimlich)
Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
Medical Emergencies
Injury emergencies
Environmental emergencies

Click here for more info about the prescribed drug Epinephrine or to learn how Epinephrine works.

When Mommy Isn’t There

April 17, 2015 Cheryl Smith Awareness and Prevention, Children's Health, Choking, CPR, CPR Classes, CPR Training, First Aid, First Aid + CPR Classes

Caring for children is a privilege for those who are called to do it. It is also an enormous responsibility and one that caregivers should be as prepared as possible to undertake. Being able to care for a child in their own home provides a comfortable, familiar environment for the child where they feel safe and secure. However, according to the CDC accidental injury is the leading cause of death in children under 14 in the United States and more of these accidents happen at home than anywhere else. Being certified in CPR and First Aid arms caregivers with the skills they need to act in a timely manner if an accident happens.

The leading reasons children under the age of 4 are seen in the emergency room include falls, being struck by something, allergic reactions, poisoning, burns, and being cut or pierces by something. Although most of these can be seen as preventable, anyone with children knows they are quick, curious, and often times fearless. Accidents can happen even when parents are in the same room with a child. CPR and First Aid training equips nannies and babysitters to immediately respond to these situations and many more and get the child the time sensitive medical help they may need until parents can be notified and get to their child. For parents, knowing their caregiver has these skills gives them piece of mind when they are leaving their children.

Preventing accidents is always the first priority, but in the event they do……and they will……happen, feeling confident in your ability and knowledge to handle the situation is invaluable in keeping the child calm, comforting them and getting them they help they need until mom and dad can be there.

Dogwood Arts – Art, Culture & Natural Beauty

April 17, 2015 Cheryl Smith Events, Uncategorized

It’s April, that means the Dogwood Arts Festival is here! The kick-off celebration starts today and offers a variety of events and festivities. Dogwood trails, live entertainment, arts, crafts and live music. Market Square will be buzzing, starting today, with vendors and local craftspeople and it is worth the trip to visit and meander thru the tents and people! Actually the fun doesn’t end in April, Dogwood Arts has blossomed into a 12 month celebration to sponsor and celebrate our region’s art, culture and natural beauty. Here’s a full list of events: