By Johnny Duncan

Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States. Each year, almost 330,000 Americans die from heart disease. Many of these deaths occur outside of the hospital with an estimated 75% of all cardiac arrests occurring in people’s homes. Learning Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) can help save the lives of your loved ones because effective CPR doubles a person’s chance of survival from sudden cardiac arrest.

Some historians believe that something similar to CPR has been around for thousands of years. The fact is that CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, has been around in some form since the early 1960's. Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation was the standard for reviving unresponsive victims of drowning or other medical problems long before modern CPR was developed. When CPR as we know it today was created, mouth-to-mouth was an integral part of the process. Today, the elimination of mouth-to-mouth is seen by some as the answer to making CPR simpler to learn.

Many people are hesitant to learn CPR for various reasons – they are too busy, unaware of classes offered, or don’t think they will ever use it. But everyone should know that CPR has actually become less complicated than in years past, with improved techniques that increase survival rates. The American Heart Association has simplified the process using what they call the Chain of Survival: Early Access (call 911); Early CPR; Early Defibrillation; and Early Advanced Care. Because approximately two-thirds of sudden deaths due to coronary heart disease occur outside of the hospital, the most important link in the chain of survival in the community is the layperson.

Most people are aware of the need of early access by phoning 911 in case of emergency. The second link in the chain, early CPR, is just as important and is where the “chain” really begins. The earlier you give CPR to a person in cardiopulmonary arrest (no breathing, no heartbeat), the greater the chance of a successful resuscitation. By performing CPR, you keep oxygenated blood flowing to the heart and brain until a defibrillator becomes available or rescue workers arrive.

When a person develops cardiac arrest, the heart stops beating. There is no blood flow and no pulse. With no blood flowing to the brain, the person becomes unresponsive and stops breathing normally. Knowing how to perform CPR and beginning immediately is crucial. CPR is only likely to be effective if commenced within 6 minutes after the blood flow stops, because permanent brain cell damage is likely to occur after that time limit.

CPR is unlikely to restart the heart, but rather its purpose is to maintain a flow of oxygenated blood to the brain and the heart, thereby delaying tissue death and extending the brief window of opportunity for a successful resuscitation without permanent brain damage. Defibrillation and advanced life support are usually needed to restart the heart.

In light of many studies showing the value of chest compressions, the American Heart Association Committee on Emergency Cardiac Care made changes to CPR guidelines in 2005. Among other changes, more compressions are now done between rescue breaths, and lay rescuers no longer check for pulses.

Keeping current with CPR training is not that difficult today, and it is worth the investment of time. Many local fire stations offer free classes as do home owner associations, churches, non-for-profit institutions, and others. Orange County offers free CPR classes in their “Citizen CPR Program.” Simply go to: http://orangecountyfl.net/cms/DEPT/ocfrd/programs/Citizen-CPR.htm and fill in the sign-up form. Also, contact the Red Cross (www.redcross.org) or the American Heart Association (www.cpr-ecc.org) for more opportunities to learn CPR.