The American Heart Association (AHA) has two simple tips for anyone around you that goes into cardiac arrest.  Call 9-1-1 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of the classic disco song “Stayin’ Alive”.    Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR can more than double a person’s changes of survival, and “Stayin’ Alive” has the right beat for Hands-Only CPR (www.heart.org).    The 1977 Bee Gees’ song has the perfect beat for performing CPR because the song contains 103 beats per minute.  This is close to the recommended chest compressions of 100 beats every 60 seconds.

This campaign introduced by the AHA has created a series of videos available on YouTube to help spread the word.  Ken Joeng, an actor, comedian and also a licensed physician in CA stars in one of the promotional videos and urges people to pay attention.

CPR courses are so important and it is crucial that every American learn these skills.  Sign up for a class today!  CPR Choice offers classes that are fun and engaging and allow each student lots of hands-on experience.  Do not hesitate to learn CPR, you could make a difference, you could save a life! We offer classes for anyone!  Including: BLS for healthcare providers, Heartsaver CPR & AED, and Heartsaver First Aid.

The AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) has a proven track record of saving lives in public places as well as in the workplace.  AEDs are designed to administer a potentially life-saving electric shock to the failing heart in order to restore a regular rhythm. The fact that most of us spend majority of our time within the work place makes it increasingly likely that if we were to suffer from cardiac arrest, we would do so at work. Having an automated external defibrillator available within the workplace, could assist in saving someone’s life. The following are several reasons why every company should have an AED.

Cardiac arrests are sudden, and usually fatal
Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, any time!  Each year sudden cardiac arrest strikes almost 400,000 thousand people in the United States alone.  Most sudden cardiac arrests occur outside of hospitals every year and many come without any warning signs. They happen when the electric impulses within the heart become irregular and erratic.  Sadly, fewer than 5% survive, often because EMS cannot reach them in time. Victims must be treated with in minutes; providing life-saving shocks from an AED and proper CPR.

Chances of survival decrease every minute
After someone has suffered from a cardiac arrest, their chance of survival decreases by approximately 10% with every minute that passes. Although you may feel as though waiting for 911 to arrive and use an AED is a safer course of action, the reality is that the quicker an AED is used along with proper CPR, the more likely that a regular heart rhythm can be restored. Having a readily accessible AED within a company’s building could give the victim the best possible chance of survival.

Learning how to use one is easy
In the case of an emergency, absolutely anyone can learn to use an AED.  AEDs are for the ordinary person in the extraordinary moment!  CPR Choice offers CPR and AED training on-site at your workplace.  We can train ANYONE, including the environmental service staff, warehouse worker, office employees, or even the CEO of the company. By having an AED available within your workplace, a company allows their employees and customers the opportunity to increase their safety by ensuring help can be given immediately, if a cardiac incident were to take place.

You can’t hurt someone or worsen the situation by using an AED
AED’s are awesome.  They contain an internal EKG monitoring system that will read the victim’s heart rhythm and will only deliver a shock if medically necessary.  Attempting to use an AED will not cause any damage to the victim, as it can only give you more information than you already have. This means you don’t have to worry about accidentally shocking a colleague’s if they don’t need it.

It’s always better to be prepared
Many business owners that I talk to will say, “We’ve never had anyone go down on the job and odds are it’s not going to happen”.  Well, do you have a fire extinguisher at work?  How about a security alarm system or camera?  Have you ever had a fire or burglary?  Hopefully you never experience a medical emergency, fire or burglary but having the tools to deal with the incident is necessary just in case of an emergency. Having an AED at your worksite will mean that you are prepared to save a customer or employee’s life should the worst happen.

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CPR Choices offers training and sales of AEDs to businesses. We currently offer on-site training classes in Knoxville, Maryville, Oak Ridge, Lenoir City, Bristol, Johnson City, Kingsport, Morristown and surrounding areas of East Tennessee. Call for pricing 865-548-1500 or visit www.knoxvillecpr.com/AED

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a leading cause of death among adults over the age of 40 in the United States and other countries. In the U.S. alone, approximately 424,000 people of all ages experience SCA each year (more than 1,000/day) and 19 out of 20 victims die.

SCA is a sudden or unexpected pulseless condition attributed to the cessation of cardiac mechanical activity.  It is usually caused by ventricular fibrillation, an abnormality in the heart’s electrical system.  When SCA occurs, blood stops flowing to the brain, the heart and the rest of the body and the person collapses.  In fact, the person is clinically dead and will remain so unless someone helps immediately.

A heart attack and SCA are not one in the same.  A heart attack occurs when part of the hearts blood supply is reduced or blocked, causing the heart muscle to become injured or die.  A heart attack victim is awake and may complain about symptoms.  The SCA victim is not awake and will need immediate attention.

SCA can strike anyone, anytime.  Seconds count-timely and appropriate care will substantially improve survival rates.   In the event of a Sudden Cardiac Arrest:

• Call 911.  Give specific details; “I have a female, approx. 45 years old, experiencing chest pain
• Tell someone to get the AED.
• Begin doing chest compressions at a rate of 100 per minute.  Push hard and fast in between the nipples on the lower portion of the sternum.

What you can do to prepare:

• Learn CPR and AED functionality.  Get your friends and family involved too.  Remember, over 80% of cardiac arrests occur at home, which means a life you save could very well be a loved one!
• Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Access– spread the word on why having an AED at your work, school or community center can be the key to survival.  CPR Choice sells AEDs and provides hands on training, as well as guidance on internal procedures for the best utilization.

Having confidence in your ability to perform CPR and to use an AED is the best way to prevent unnecessary deaths. 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 today!

Almost every day, someone shares their concerns and fears of being held liable if they were to give CPR to a bystander.  It does seem like people can be sued for almost anything these days.  Have you read about consumers suing restaurants for causing them to be overweight?  Or criminals that sue their own victims for injuries caused while committing the crime?

With this sort of litigiousness being prevalent in our culture, many people tend to be cautious with their interactions with others. When it comes to giving someone CPR or first aid many fear their liability.  What happens if they break a rib or if the person isn’t resuscitated?  In the state of Tennessee there are protections in place for those who are, in good faith, attempting to provide assistance during an emergency.  Most states have these safe guards in place, they are usually referred to as Good Samaritan laws.

Tennessee’s Good Samaritan Law protects ANY person who provides emergency rescue, CPR or first aid from liability if they meet certain conditions:

• The rescuer must be acting in good faith.  This means he or she is providing care to the person without any motive other than saving the person’s life or keeping them from further harm.  They may not receive any rewards or monetary donation.
• The situation must be a potential life-threatening emergency and the care must be necessary to treat the injury.  Examples of life saving treatment are giving CPR, applying pressure for blood loss, giving rescue breaths, providing first aid or performing abdominal thrusts to a choking victim.
• Care must be provided on a voluntary basis.  The caregiver must not have legal obligation to provide help nor can they be paid for providing assistance. A healthcare provider (i.e, paramedic, nurse, physician) that is on duty is not protected under Good Samaritan laws.  However, a healthcare provider that stops at the scene of an accident and provides first aid (while not on duty) IS protected.
• You may not commit gross negligence.  The caregiver must not deliberately act in a way that would cause harm to the victim. This could include performing skills that you are not trained to perform.

The best way to protect yourself is to get certified in CPR and First Aid by taking a class from an authorized training center.  Keep your certification current, most certifications last 2 years.  As long as you are acting with true intentions of trying to save someone’s life,  you are not held liable.  If you have not been trained, please call 911 and get an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)!

Good Samaritan Act – Article 4 ARS.#32-1471

Health care providers and other persons administering emergency aid are not liable. Any health care provider licensed or certified to practice as such in this state or elsewhere or any other person who renders emergency care at a public gathering or at a scene of an emergency occurrence gratuitously and in good faith, shall not be liable for any civil or other damages as the result of any act or omission by which person rendering the emergency care, or as the result of any act or failure to act to provide or arrange for further medical treatment or care for the injured persons, unless such person, while rendering such care, is guilty of gross negligence.

To read the entire Tennessee Good Samaritan Act, click here.

This article is not intended to be legal advice

Who Needs CPR & First Aid Training?

Everyone needs it!  Our goal is to deliver high quality training and to create a casual, fun atmosphere in both our CPR & First Aid classes.  We make sure that all students feel confident in their ability to perform the life saving skills we teach.  Our experienced instructors can help ANYONE learn CPR!  We offer American Heart Association classes including Basic Life Support BLS for Healthcare Providers and Heartsaver CPR/First Aid classes.

Typical Professions that may require CPR or First Aid Training:

All Healthcare Providers
Doctors, Dentists, Registered Nurses (RNs), Chiropractors, Physical & Occupational Therapists, Clinical Nurse Assistants (CNA), Dental Hygeinists, Registered Dental Assistants (RDA), Medical students, Other Hospital & Healthcare Professionals

City & County Officials
Emergency Medical Techs (EMTs), Paramedics, Firefighters, Police Officers, Municipal & Federal Employees, Power & Water Employees

Educators
School Teachers, Coaches, Daycare Staff, Sunday School Teachers, Youth Organization Leaders, Counselors, Student Teachers

Professionals
Bank Employees, Construction Workers, Restaurant Staff, Hotel/Hospitality staff, Retail Staff, Manufacturing Personnel

Other
Group Fitness Instructors, Personal Trainers, Lifeguards, Boy & Girl Scouts, Community Associations, Foster Parents, Church Staff

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires many occupations to maintain current training in CPR and First Aid. Federal OSHA standard 1910.151 states: “In the absence of an infirmary, clinic or hospital in near proximity to the workplace which is used for the treatment of all injured employees, person or persons shall be adequately trained to render first aid.” Additionally, many employers want their employees trained, even if it is not required.

Check out our calendar to find a class for individuals or complete the form for on-site group training.  We guarantee it will be the best CPR class you have ever taken!  We currently serve the Knoxville, Maryville and     Tri-cities area of Tennessee (TN).  Visit one of our websites for specific information for your area.

KnoxvilleCPR.com

TriCitiesCPR.com

Businesses are continuing to recognize the importance of convenience for their customers and potential customers!   Whether it is shopping online, having items delivered to us at home or at our place of employment- we are all looking for ways to save time.  CPR Choice strives to offer just that – CONVENIENCE!  We can arrange classes in your home or office.  We teach for hundreds of gyms, medical offices, daycares, manufacturers, construction companies and more EVERY YEAR.  Make sure that you are OSHA compliant!

Information About CPR Training

On our websites, there are a couple of links available “Calendar & Registration” and “On Site Group Training“.  The “Calendar & Registration” tabs provide a description of all the types of training available, as well as a calendar of scheduled classes.   We offer a variety of locations across Knoxville, Maryville and the Tri-Cities. We can also offer on-site trainings customized to fit your needs and more information is available under the “On Site Group Training” link.   After clicking on this link, there are some specific instructions on how to schedule and customize a group on-site training class.

Classes Offered for Businesses

• Adult/Child/Infant CPR
• First Aid
• AED training
• Pediatric CPR & First Aid
• Blood Borne Pathogens
• Emergency Oxygen
• Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers
• Heartsaver CPR & AED

Convenience is the KEY

CPR Choice provides all the training materials (manikins, AED Trainer, Videos, CPR Cards, etc.), absolutely no inconvenience to the client. Group and Onsite CPR trainings are designed to be as simple and easy for the client as possible. We cater your needs!  Do you have several different shifts, including nights and weekends?  We will accommodate!

We would love to speak to you more about CPR Choice and our on-site CPR training.  Please contact Cheryl Smith at info@cprchoice.com to schedule an on-site group class at your location or visit our website KnoxvilleCPR.com to register for a class as an individual at one of our many locations. Learn more about us: CPR Choice, LLC

It’s football time in Tennessee!  We love this time of year- football games, bon fires, corn mazes and the approaching colors of fall.  Our, University of Tennessee, football season opener was sold out on Sunday, August 31^st and with over 100,000 people in the stands I always wonder who’s prepared to help in the event of a cardiac emergency.

According to the American Heart Association, less than one-third of sudden cardiac arrest victims are administered immediate CPR from bystanders. Usually this is because people are untrained or do not feel comfortable putting their mouth on a stranger’s mouth.  However, the window of opportunity is four to six minutes.  Someone must act before it’s too late!  If a family member, friend or infant had a cardiac or first aid emergency could you respond appropriately?  Here are some things that you could do:

• Immediately have someone call 911.  Try to give specific details; “I have a female, approx. 60 years old, experiencing chest pain, we are in section 110, row 5”
• Tell someone to get the AED.  Neyland Stadium has 4 AEDs in each of their first aid stations.  The stations are staffed by medical doctors, nurses and other qualified personnel. Trained first-aid teams are also located throughout the stadium.  For a map of the stations, click on the link above.
• Begin doing chest compressions at a rate of 100 per minute.  Push hard and fast in between the nipples on the lower portion of the sternum

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is a proven life saver!  When someone goes into cardiac arrest it prevents blood and oxygen from entering the brain and heart.  Time is precious and knowing CPR will allow the victim extra time until the emergency medical response team (911) arrives.  If you can begin CPR when someone becomes unconscious you add valuable minutes to their life and may be able to keep them alive until more advanced personnel arrive.

Get informed, devote the time, and equip yourself with the skills to help save a life.   CPR Choice offers a variety of classes and can accommodate almost any schedule. Enroll in a class today, someone’s life may depend on it!

In recent years, an increasing number of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) have been provided in office complexes, shopping malls, gyms and even on commercial airliners. Why, then, are there so few of them in apartment complexes?

The reluctance to install them usually comes down to concerns about potential liability.  However, such concerns are unwarranted. Modern defibrillators — small electronic devices that administer an electric shock to restore heart rhythm are basically foolproof.  With the new models now on the market, the operator has only to attach two pads to the victim’s chest and turn on the machine; follow the simple instructions.

The machine will analyze the heart rhythm and tell you whether or not to administer a shock.  As far as we know, these machines have never shocked someone who didn’t need it and never failed to shock someone who did.

While having defibrillators in commercial buildings is certainly helpful, having them in residential buildings is much more important.  Eighty-eight percent of cardiac arrests happen at home and in 93 cases out of 100, the victim does not survive.

With cardiac arrest, every second counts. If defibrillation occurs in the first one or two minutes, 90% of sudden cardiac arrest victims in VF survive.  If defibrillation is delayed for more than ten minutes the survival rate drops to 5% for sudden cardiac arrest victims in VF.

Apartment complex employees and others who would use the machine can receive training from the American Heart Association; it takes a few hours. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, aid for choking victims and hands-on practice with the defibrillator are included.

Tennessee’s Good Samaritan Law protects from liability anyone who “voluntarily and without expectation of monetary compensation” uses a defibrillator in an attempt to revive someone in an emergency. “In my opinion, it would be negligent not to have one.”

Signs and Symptoms of a Heart Attack 

If you think you may be having a heart attack, Stop, call 911 and chew an aspirin.  Now is not the time to be doing research and a delay can be very dangerous.  It’s important to pay special attention to any signs and symptoms of a heart attack especially if you have any of these risk factors: over 50 years in age, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoker, history of heart disease.

Heart attacks occur when blood supply to the heart is blocked, therefore damaging the muscle.  It’s important to chew an aspirin if you feel like you may be experiencing a heart attack because the aspirin will thin the blood.

• Chest Pain: Chest pain is one of the most common symptoms of a heart attack, although it can vary quite a bit.  Some people may feel as if an elephant is sitting on their chest, while others may feel a squeezing sensation in their chest.  Others may describe it as chest fullness or an uncomfortable sensation.  If you experience chest pain lasting longer than 5 minutes, don’t delay, call 911 and go to the emergency room.
• Shortness of breath:  May feel as if you are unable to catch your breath even when resting.  Shortness of breath often occurs before chest pain.
• Dizziness or lightheadedness: Feeling as if you might pass out.
• Cold Sweat: Sweating while feeling cold or chilled.

Symptoms more likely in Women

Women have a higher risk of dying from a heart attack because they are less likely to experience all of the symptoms we hear about often or see in the movies.  Here are some symptoms that women should be especially aware of:

• Pain in the arm (especially the left arm), back, neck, abdomen or shoulder blades: uncomfortable pressure, tightness or ache.
• Jaw Pain and throat: Starts in the chest and moves to the jaw, feels like someone is choking you.
• Nausea, Vomiting or Indigestion
• Overwhelming and unusual fatigue
• Anxiety
• Pale Skin

Knowing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack could save a life.  Always remember to not delay if you or someone you know feels they may be experiencing a heart attack, call 911 and chew an aspirin.  If the person becomes unconscious immediately begin CPR starting with chest compressions after calling 911.  If you are in a public place you should also request an AED (automated external defibrillator) when activating EMS.  Focus on pushing hard and fast in the center of the victims chest.  For more information on how to do CPR please check out our website or sign up for a class.  All CPR classes that are open to the public in the Knoxville area are listed on our calendar.