Summer is over and fall is slowly creeping in… Schedules and routines change, new caregivers and teachers enter the picture and concerns for our children’s safety are always on our minds. Be diligent in the process and CPR Choice has a few tips to help the summer to fall transition be a smooth one!

1. Prepare your household for upcoming changes- early mornings, homework, extra traffic, new bed times are all adjustments that need to be made in order to have a healthy, productive day for everyone in your household. P-L-A-N is another four letter word that is crucial for success when attempting a new routine. Save time by preparing items before bedtime to save time in the morning. For example- laying out clothes for the next day, packing lunches and backpacks and put them in a central location for easy access, prep YOUR meals and set the coffee maker up so you have your dose of caffeine to get you rolling too!
2. Be engaged- let your child and the school staff know you will be an involved caregiver! We use the term caregiver because we recognize that a lot of families may not fit a traditional mold of Mom and Dad and we know that love comes in all forms. Building a relationship with your child’s teacher and school staff will foster good relationship skills for your child and help ease the anxiety of a new teacher and new surroundings. Also being involved and this can come in many forms including volunteering in the classroom or a field trip and also monitoring homework and progress your child is making day-to-day.
3. Safeguard your child during the day- is the school or after school day care equipped to manage a medical emergency? Is there an AED present and accessible? Does the staff know Pediatric CPR and can they perform it until additional emergency medical staff arrive? These are questions you should be asking if you are placing someone in the care of another – regardless if they are your children, parents or any other loved one.

CPR Choice can help you manage this step and we offer group classes on site! CPR Choice offers Pediatric & Adult Heartsaver CPR/AED & First Aid Training. Our Pediatric Heartsaver CPR/AED & First Aid Training provides childcare workers with the knowledge to respond to and manage illness and injuries to a child and/or infant in the fires few minutes before the emergency medical team arrives. It covers first aid skills such as finding the problem, stopping bleeding, bandaging and using an Epinephrine pen, as well as child CPR AED, infant CPR and optional modules in adult CPR AED, child mask, infant mask and Asthma Care Training for Child Care Providers.

We teach CPR & First Aid for daycares, private schools, gyms, churches, and childcare providers. Please contact us via email info@cprchoice.com or phone 865-548-1500 for more info.

In early 2016 the American Heart Association (AHA) rolled out new cards to indicate that students had taken the most recent guidelines that were introduced in 2015. The new cards are white and each disciple is differentiated through a colored stripe on the top of the card; BLS & Heartsaver (blue), ACLS (red), PALS & PEARS (purple). Also all cards should be copyright © 2015. Additional changes included microprint and highlighted personalization. The cards now have highlighted areas for name, issue date and renewal date. Tampering with these areas will alter the appearance of the card.

One major difference is the BLS provider card. The new 2015 BLS provider course replaces the BLS for Healthcare providers and BLS for pre-hospital provider courses. The new BLS course teaches both single rescuer and team BLS skills for providers within the hospital setting and those providing care out of the hospital. The new card simply states BLS Provider and the words Healthcare Provider have been removed.

Please review the official AHA card reference guide found here for questions and quality assurance.

Every five years the American Heart Association does a major overhaul on their Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) guidelines. During these updates they share the latest science and discovery and make changes to the way we teach CPR classes. The latest update now includes new content such as team dynamics and administration of Naloxone.

The 2015 Guidelines Update for Healthcare providers adds a new perspective on systems of care, differentiating how providers handle in hospital cardiac arrests (IHCAs) from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs). The AHA now provides a different chain of survival dependent on where the cardiac arrest takes place. The BLS provider class now has two curriculums; one focused on pre-hospital care providers such as firefighters, EMTs, paramedics and off duty providers and in-hospital teams made up of physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and code teams.

Other key changes to the curriculum include emphasis on chest compressions, chest compression rate and depth. Below are the new guidelines taken from the HIGHLIGHTS of the 2015 American Heart Association Guidelines Update for CPR and ECC.

Emphasis on Chest Compressions

Untrained lay rescuers should provide compression-only (Hands-Only) CPR, with or without dispatcher guidance, for adult victims of cardiac arrest. The rescuer should continue compression-only CPR until the arrival of an AED or rescuers with additional training. All lay rescuers should, at a minimum, provide chest compressions for victims of cardiac arrest. In addition, if the trained lay rescuer is able to perform rescue breaths, he or she should add rescue breaths in a ratio of 30 compressions to 2 breaths. The rescuer should continue CPR until an AED arrives and is ready for use, EMS providers take over care of the victim, or the victim starts to move.

Chest Compression Rate

In adult victims of cardiac arrest, it isreasonable for rescuers to perform chest compressions at a rate of 100 to 120/min. The number of chest compressions delivered per minute during CPR is an important determinant of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and survival with good neurologic function. The actual number of chest compressions delivered per minute is determined by the rate of chest compressions and the number and duration of interruptions in

Chest Compression Depth

During manual CPR, rescuers should perform chest compressions to a depth of at least 2 inches (5 cm) for an average adult, while avoiding excessive chest compression depths (greater than 2.4 inches [6 cm]). Compressions create blood flow primarily by increasing intrathoracic pressure and directly compressing the heart, which in turn results in critical blood flow and oxygen delivery to the heart and brain. Rescuers often do not compress the chest deeply enough despite the recommendation to “push hard.” While a compression depth of at least 2 inches (5 cm) is recommended, the 2015 Guidelines Update incorporates new evidence about the potential for an upper threshold of compression depth (greater than 2.4 inches [6 cm]), beyond which complications may occur. Compression depth may be difficult to judge without use of feedback devices, and identification of upper limits of compression depth may be challenging. It is important for rescuers to know that the recommendation about the upper limit of compression depth is based on 1 very small study that reported an association between excessive compression depth and injuries that were not life-threatening. Most monitoring via CPR feedback devices suggests that compressions are more often too shallow than they are too deep.

The new 2015 CPR guidelines have been released.

“The new rate of chest compressions is 100 to 120 compressions, or pushes, per minute, compared to “at least 100” in previous guidelines, according to the American Heart Association.

For adolescents and adults, a rescuer should push down at least 2 inches, but no more than 2.4 inches on the chest, compared to at least 2 inches in previous guidelines.”

Check out the full release here: http://blog.heart.org/%EF%BB%BFnew-resuscitation-guidelines-update-cpr-chest-pushes/

AEDs can be a critical part of survival for anyone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, which is the leading cause of death in the United States.  As we have shared in the past, sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere, and at any time.  Minutes count and CPR along with AEDs are most effective tools to help restore a heart rhythm.

Did you know that after calling 9-1-1 the average response time for a first responder is approximately 6-12 minutes and according to the American Red Cross every minute you are delayed reduces your chance of survival by 10%?  Again, minutes count….

What can you do to make sure you are ready for a sudden cardiac arrest emergency?

1. Make sure you and your family know First Aid & CPR! Make sure to include your children in the learning process and continue to talk about what to do in case of an emergency.  CPR Choice offers classes all over East TN and it’s our passion to equip our students with the skills needed to help save a life.   Remember—most incidents occur at home, which means you’ll be learning the skills to save a loved one.
2. Make sure you have access to an AED. Check around your office, school or place of business –the cost of the machine is well worth the life it could save.   And no need to worry if you can operate one in a medical emergency situation- the AEDs are designed to walk you thru the steps in an easy to use format.  Visit AEDChoice.com for more info.

So just how easy are AEDs to use?  One word—simple!   AEDS provide basic instructions and diagrams for use.  All the items needed are contained in the AED itself and all you have to do is turn it on, apply the pads in the appropriate spots and follow directions.  Don’t forget to call 911 or have someone call, have someone get the AED, and remember CPR should be administered while the AED is being located and set up.

The AED will automatically determine the heart rhythm of a pulseless victim and if the victim needs a shock it will act.  This shock will attempt to restore the victim’s heart.  When the heart is in ventricular fibrillation or v-fib, the heart is still receiving nerve impulses.  These impulses are so out of sync keeping the heart from producing a regular beat.  As you know, when the heart doesn’t beat it’s unable to pump blood and oxygen throughout the body.  This could cause the body to be deprived of oxygen causing brain cells to die in a matter of 4-5 minutes.

CPR Choice also sells AEDs, provides you with training and also helps you determine the best place for storage as well as maintenance support.  Contact us today to schedule a First Aid, CPR & AED course for you, your family and place of employment.   We offer classes all over East Tennessee and we also offer onsite training.  Visit CPRChoice.com for our training options!

CPR Choice is continuing to grow!  We are excited to announce our newest instructor Beth Cruz and our new class offering Advanced Cardiac Life Support or ACLS.

Beth has been a Registered Nurse over 20 years, and has been teaching CPR to healthcare providers and her community for over 15 years.  She joins CPR Choice as an instructor for Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), and Basic Life Support (BLS) instructor.  Beth is also an adjunct nursing faculty member at Walters State Community College and King University.  We are thrilled to have her as a member of the CPR Choice family & excited to offer additional classes to our students.

Advanced Cardiac Life Support or ACLS is an advanced class designed for healthcare professionals, including personnel engaged in emergency response, emergency medicine, intensive care and/or critical care units.  Building from the foundation of our existing BLS for Healthcare Providers class, ACLS focuses on team dynamics and communication, systems of care, and post cardiac arrest care.  It also incorporates airway management and related pharmacology.

Visit CPRchoice.com for a full listing of all classes offered, our training calendar and our instructors.  We can accommodate any size and offer multiple classes opportunities in multiple counties.  We look forward to seeing you in an ACLS class soon!

The statistics are unimaginable….without an AED, approximately 95% of heart attacks on golf courses are fatal.  According to the American Heart Association, golf courses have become the most common place for a heart attack making AEDS or automated external defibrillators a necessity in every club house.

Sudden cardiac arrest, or SCA, is the leading cause of death in the United States.  SCA occurs when the heart stops beating, which stops the blood from flowing throughout the body.  The risk for SCA increases with age and men are about 3 times more likely to experience SCA than women.

Here are some signs to look for

• Chest pains
• Nausea
• Shortness of breath
• Vomiting
• Prior to fainting or losing consciousness, some may experience a racing heartbeat or a dizzy feeling
• Loss of consciousness or fainting
• No heartbeat of pulse

What Should You Do if this occurs:

• Call 911! Have someone in your group call 9-1-1 and retrieve the AED. If you are alone on the golf course with your buddy, call 9-1-1 first and get an AED if possible.
• Are they breathing? If NO, start CPR immediately! Use an AED as soon as possible.
• Continue CPR until the individual starts breathing or until medical support arrives.

How Can Your Golf Club Prepare:

All golf clubs should have AED’s in their clubhouses and there should be portable devices located throughout the course.  When you check in for your tee time—ask where their AEDs are located so you’ll be prepared in the event of an emergency.   Also this is a great opportunity to make sure that everyone is CPR certified in your golfing group.

As a reminder, if an AED is used within 5 minutes of a Sudden Cardiac collapse the survival rates are approximately 70% as compared to the 5% survival rate without one!  Golf courses are listed as the top places in which cardiac arrests can occur.  Be informed and inform your favorite golf club about why an AED is important!

CPR Choice is your go-to place for AEDs and CPR certification training.  We sell state of the art AEDs to families and businesses and provide support on training, as well as maintenance requirements.  We also offer convenient CPR, First Aid and AED classes all over Knoxville and the surrounding counties.  Visit our website at www.cprchoice.com for additional information on AEDs and our class schedules.

 http://www.golfwisconsin.com/articles

Our mission is saving lives!  We continuously strive to be the best CPR Provider in the region by offering quality training that is engaging, convenient and fun for everyone.  To help make CPR easy, CPR Choice offers:

• Convenient Locations– CPR Choice prides itself on offering classes all over the Knoxville and surrounding counties. We offer classroom training at our Knoxville Training Center, as well as classes in the following areas:
  • Lenoir City
  • Maryville
  • Oak Ridge
  • Sevierville
  • Tricities

We also offer on-site training. Gather a group of 8 or more and we’ll come to you. We can accommodate any size group and we have worked with some of the largest companies in Knoxville.

• Flexible Schedules– We offer classes consistently all over Knoxville and the surrounding counties. Our Knoxville Training Center schedules classes each week & offers weekend options too. We can also accommodate any last minute training needs. With our organizational structure, we can offer classes for any shifts for your employees and/or businesses.
• State of the Art Equipment– Our modern and up-to-date equipment offer students hands on training with life-like manikins to provide visual feedback regarding compression depths and speed. We have over 50 manikins in inventory, offering all our students an opportunity to have practical experience
• Wide Variety of classes– Our classes include:
  • Basic Life Support BLS for Healthcare Providers
  • Heartsaver ® CPR AED
  • Heartsaver ® First Aid CPR AED
  • Heartsaver ® Pediatric CPR/AED & First Aid
  • Family & Friends ® CPR
  • Blood Borne Pathogens
  • BLS for Healthcare Providers Skills Check
  • BLS for Healthcare Providers Challenge
  • Online Training (Blended Learning)
  • ASHI Emergency Oxygen Administration

Starting July 2015, we will also be adding ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) and PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) to our curriculum.  Continue to check our website for new class offerings, www.cprchoice.com.

• We make it FUN! We deliver quality training with the most experienced instructors in the area, boasting a combined 85 years’ experience in CPR and safety training. Our staff members are passionate about their job and incorporates their real-life training knowledge into the class room offering a fun, engaging and informative experience.

Visit our website www.CPRChoice.com to learn more about our locations, classes and our team!  We would love to see YOU in a CPR class soon!

There is no doubt that we love our pets and would do anything to keep them healthy & happy. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, they estimate that approximately 57% of United States households have animals and over 63% of these households consider their pets family members. Our fur babies can have medical emergencies too. Would you know how to perform CPR on your pet? We have outlined some steps below to help if your pet needs CPR.

1. Check the airway – Is it clear? Open the animal’s mouth and check for any obstruction. Remove anything that could be blocking the airway.
2. Tilt the head and give several breaths. For large dogs, it is recommended that you close the jaw and breathe into the nose. Watch to make sure the animal’s chest rises and give 2 breaths. For smaller dogs or cats you may be able to cup or cover the nose and mouth together as you provide the 2 breaths. Again, watch for the chest to rise.
3. Chest compressions are next! For large dogs try to position the dog on his back and perform chest compressions just as you would for a human. For smaller dogs and cats, the animals should be on their side and focus your compressions on the rib cage area. The rate of compressions will depend on the size of the dog or cat.

 

• If your dog weighs more than 60 lbs. use 60 compressions per minute
• Any animal between 11-60 lbs. use 80-100 compressions per minute
• Animals that are less than 10lbs use 120 compression per minute

 

4. Don’t forget to alternate breaths with compressions! Use the same rate of compressions to breaths as humans, which is 30:2.
5. Continue to perform CPR on your animal until you get a response or until they begin breathing on their own.

Every animal lover should be familiar with these steps. Actually these are skills everyone needs. CPR Choice is passionate about equipping you with the skills need to help save a life! Visit the CPR Training Calendar today and sign up for a class- knoxvillecpr.com and tricitiescpr.com. Remember the life you save, could be a family member or close friend.

Sources: https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/Statistics/Pages/Market-research-statistics-US-pet-ownership.aspx

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:

Dogwood Arts in April

April 1, 2015 :: A Very Special Arts Festival

April 2, 2015 :: SYNERGY [Student Art Exhibition & East Tennessee Art Educator Exhibition] Openings

April 3, 2015 :: Art in Public Places Knoxville and Regional Fine Art Exhibition Openings

April 8, 2015 :: Dogwood Luncheon

April 8-26, 2015 :: Dogwood Trails, Open Gardens & Camera Sites and Walking Trails

April 10-12, 2015 :: Rhythm N’ Blooms

April 11, 2015 :: Chalk Walk

April 11-12, 2015 :: Dogwood Art DeTour

April 17-19, 2015 :: Dogwood Arts Festival on Market Square

April 25 & 26, 2015 :: Featured Open Gardens

April 25 & 26, 2015 :: Bikes & Blooms

Knoxville Film Festival

September 17-20, 2015 :: Knoxville Film Festival

Bazillion Blooms

December 5, 2015 :: Bazillion Blooms

House & Garden Show

February 12-14, 2016 :: House & Garden Show

Take some time out of your schedule and enjoy all the events!  For more information visit www.dogwoodarts.com!  Enjoy!