Training for lives "Another CPR story"

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Campbell
  • 477th Fighter Group Public Affairs

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or “CPR,” is life-saving training military members receive that can reach into our lives when we least expect it. The Acronym CPR will have a different meaning to each person, and while for some it is a reminder of the year-after-year training we all take, for others it is a small word that has undeniably saved lives.

Cardiac arrest is an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and disrupts the flow of blood to the brain, lungs and other organs. According to the American Heart Association, it is a leading cause of death, and more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States each year.

CPR.heart.org says “When a person has a cardiac arrest, survival depends on immediately getting CPR from someone nearby. Almost 90 percent of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die. CPR, especially if performed in the first few minutes of cardiac arrest, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.”

So in other words, cardiac arrest and survival = CPR, fast, and in the first few minutes of the cardiac arrest. Their survival is in your hands.

CPR training has changed over the years through trial and error. Those lives saved and unfortunately lost gave us basic knowledge that leads to better results. You may know this to be true when you enter your annual training environment, only to learn something changed or has been modified in CPR training. A good example is the introduction of the automated external defibrillator (AED) and the lifesaving benefits it adds to the work place.

 Air Force CPR training at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson starts at the 673rd Medical Group training facility for most certifiers. The 673 MDG has state-of–the-art facilities that aid in providing a real-time experience for medical professionals and individuals seeking hands-on CPR. The training, in return, is passed to the Airmen.

What do we get from CPR training? Simply--we get to save lives. CPR training gives us the confidence to know that we are trained to help someone in time of need when it matters the most.

Family is always a priority and so should your awareness of CPR’s life-saving benefits. Taking time to teach your family CPR is one of the best investments you can make for you and your inner circle. Taking the time to go over CPR training with your family is an excellent form of prevention. Teaching someone CPR fundamentals today might save a life tomorrow.

Learning CPR basics will give us peace of mind when it comes to heart-saving moments. Most instructors teaching CPR can teach other elements of the heart saver program if needed; for example first aid, adult CPR/AED for the work place, and infant and child CPR for new additions to our families.

CPR is a necessity for the every person, taking it seriously and sharing our knowledge secures great futures for the people we care about.