 Red Cross Celebrates National CPR and AED Week
With Discounts for CPR Classes and AED Specials
Administering CPR can make a difference in life-threatening emergencies
St. Louis, Thursday, May 29, 2008 – The American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter is celebrating National CPR and AED Awareness Week, June 1-7, 2008, by offering a ten percent discount to people who register for CPR classes at any Chapter location during this week-long healthcare observance. Local companies, schools, municipalities and other community organizations are encouraged to contact the Red Cross about starting an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) program in order to be prepared for the unexpected.
In December of 2007, Congress declared the first week of June each year as National CPR and AED Awareness Week. CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This year marks the first time national attention will be focused on encouraging states, cities and towns to establish organized programs that provide CPR and AED training. An effort will also be made to increase public access to AEDs by having more of them available in public buildings. The American Red Cross has stepped up to the challenge and set an organizational goal of reaching 250,000 people nationwide with the vital knowledge and skills to respond to a life-threatening situation with confidence during this week-long healthcare observance.
“Our Red Cross first aid, CPR and AED programs are designed to help people of all ages learn and remember valuable lifesaving skills in order to be ready to respond and potentially save lives in life-threatening situations,” said Maxine Hepper, American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter Executive Officer, Health and Safety Sales and Marketing. “We translate the consensus of medical science into practical, easy-to-understand information for everyone who goes through our training.”
The Red Cross provides CPR and AED training classes for anyone who works with children, wants training for employees, or needs to take a refresher course as a professional rescuer. Individuals who want to know how to help in an emergency are encouraged to sign up as well. Through the availability of online courses, the Red Cross has reduced classroom time from 4-7 hours to 2-3 hours to accommodate people with busy schedules. Also, the St. Louis Area Chapter can customize programs to meet the needs of specific groups and individuals. To register, contact the St. Louis Area Chapter at 314.516.2740 or log on at www.redcrossstl.org.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest
The St. Louis Area Chapter hopes to raise public awareness about sudden cardiac arrest because approximately 325,000 Americans die from cardiac arrest outside the hospital setting – that’s about 900 American deaths every single day. Time is of the essence in life-threatening situations. The Red Cross believes the chances of survival can be increased by having at least one person in each household trained in CPR and the use of an AED. Administering CPR during the critical time between a 911 Emergency phone call and the arrival of paramedics can make the difference between life and death, or the quality of life after the incident:
- At 0 minutes: Breathing stops. The heart will soon stop beating.
- At 4-6 minutes: Brain damage is possible.
- At 6-8 minutes: Brain damage is likely.
- Over 10 minutes: Irreversible brain damage can occur.
What is an AED?
AED stands for Automated External Defibrillator. An AED is a portable, lightweight device about the size of a laptop. An AED automatically analyzes the heart’s rhythm, and if necessary, prompts the user to deliver a shock to the victim of sudden cardiac arrest. This shock, called defibrillation, helps the heart to re-establish an effective rhythm of its own. During its analysis, if the AED does not find it necessary to deliver a shock, the user will be prompted to attend to the patient and give CPR, if needed. AEDs are reliable, portable and durable as well as easy to use and maintain.
Benefits of AEDs
In situations when a life is on the line, every second counts. Published studies indicate that survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest can exceed 70 percent if defibrillation is administered during the first few minutes. The chances of survival decrease by approximately 10 percent with each minute that passes after the heart stops beating. The average time for emergency personnel to arrive on the scene is more then ten minutes, resulting in an average cardiac arrest survival rate of less than five percent; therefore, the use of an AED within the first moments is vital for survival. Many organizations have benefited from the services provided by the St. Louis Area Chapter when adding AEDs to their facility. According to Dana Garner, American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter AED program specialist, “More than 40,000 lives could be saved each year if more AEDs were available.”
The Red Cross has a very knowledge staff with multiple years of experience that can assist organizations when it comes to implementing an AED program. To inquire about AED specials, contact Dana at 314.516.2730.
About the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter:
Founded in 1917, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter celebrates 91 years of dedicated service, providing emergency relief and preparedness training more than 446,600 times each year. The Red Cross is a charity, not a government agency, and depends on the efforts of thousands of volunteers and donors to provide a wide range of community support services, including disaster relief, first aid and CPR training, water safety, services to military personnel and support for blood services. The Chapter, a United Way agency, provides programs and services to St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County in Missouri, as well as Monroe, St. Clair (including Scott Air Force Base) and part of Madison County in Illinois. All disaster relief services are provided free of charge thanks to the generosity of the American people. To learn more about Red Cross programs, volunteer opportunities, and how you can help, contact the St. Louis Area Chapter at 314.516.2800 or www.redcrossstl.org. |