Learn CPR

Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is an emergency lifesaving procedure to revive someone who has stopped breathing or whose heart has stopped functioning. CPR can double a cardiac arrest victim's chance of survival by maintaining vital blood flow to the heart and brain until more advanced medical care can be administered.

CPR is most effective when administered as quickly as possible in emergencies such as heart attacks or near drowning. CPR combines rescue breathing and chest compressions to maintain enough blood flow to keep the brain alive until normal heart functioning can be restored.

More than 650,000 people in the United States die each year from heart attacks, including 350,000 who die before reaching the hospital. Another 500,000 people suffer strokes in the United States each year, and 6,000 people drown.

Time is critical when helping an unconscious person. Brain damage can occur after just a few minutes without oxygen, and death will occur in 8-10 minutes.

Learning CPR improves the likelihood that you will be able to help a family member, loved one, friend or stranger during a medical emergency.

Three physical symptoms indicate a need for CPR to be performed immediately: unconsciousness, not breathing and no detectable pulse.

To find a CPR course near you, visit the following site:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3011764

For more information about CPR, visit the following sites:

• http://depts.washington.edu/learncpr/quickcpr.html
• http://depts.washington.edu/learncpr/
• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/first-aid-cpr/FA00061
• http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/emergencies/cpr.html