CPR / AED
In one year alone, 475,000 Americans died from cardiac arrest. Globally, cardiac arrest claims more lives than colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, influenza, pneumonia, auto accidents, HIV, firearms, and house fires combined. Fortunately, bystander CPR improves chances for survival and by learning about CPR and AEDs, YOU can save a life! If performed immediately, CPR can double or triple the chance of survival from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Arvada Fire does not offer certified CPR classes. We recommend that you contact the Red Cross or the American Heart Association for your certification needs. However, at public events and other special events, Arvada Fire frequently teaches "hands-only" CPR. This life-saving technique can be learned in just five minutes but does not meet certification requirements.
When a person has a cardiac arrest, survival depends on immediately receiving CPR from someone nearby. Hands-Only CPR has been shown to be as effective in the first few minutes as conventional CPR for cardiac arrest at home, at work, or in public. Hands-Only CPR has just two easy steps, performed in this order:
- Call 911 if you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse. The dispatcher can assist you and provide instructions while also sending help to your location.
- Push hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of a familiar song, like “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees or “Crazy in Love” by Beyoncé, which has 100 to 120 beats per minute.
By watching this one-minute video on hands-only CPR, you can be prepared to save a loved one!
Sudden cardiac arrest is among the leading causes of death in the United States. Currently, the only way to restore a regular heart rhythm during cardiac arrest is to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Of course, you can – and should – request the assistance of trained medical professionals. However, the average response time for first responders once 911 is called is 8-12 minutes. Additionally, for each minute defibrillation is delayed, the odds of survival are reduced by approximately 10%. That's why having access to an AED and knowing how to follow its instructions are critical.
Most AEDs have easy-to-follow audio and visual instructions to walk you through each step, such as where to attach the pads or when to stay clear of the victim before a shock. Learn more about how to use an AED.
Through the use of location-aware mobile devices, PulsePoint is building applications that work with local public safety agencies to improve communications with citizens, empowering them to help reduce the millions of annual deaths from sudden cardiac arrest.
Where adopted, PulsePoint empowers everyday citizens to provide life‐saving assistance to victims of sudden cardiac arrest. App users who have indicated they are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and willing to assist in case of an emergency can be notified if someone nearby is having a cardiac emergency and may require CPR. Deployment of the PulsePoint app can significantly strengthen the “chain of survival” by improving bystander response to cardiac arrest victims and increasing the chance that lifesaving steps will be taken prior to the arrival of emergency medical services.
The free PulsePoint app is available in the App Store and Google Play.