City CPR Rate Improves in 2011

Fredericksburg's fire and rescue personnel are getting better at restarting stopped hearts. In fiscal year 2011, city fire and rescue personnel were able to restore the heartbeat of 22.2 percent of patients whose hearts had stopped beating, a 6.6 percent increase over fiscal year 2010.

The numbers were revealed as part of a performance measurement survey. Included in the survey were statistics on incidents where fire and rescue personnel had to use Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation. In 2011, city fire and rescue personnel responded to 27 situations where CPR was needed.

"The exact statistics at the national level vary widely and measure survival rates as CPR patients who live to be discharged from the hospital, rather than a return of a detectable pulse in the field" reads a memo to members of the City Council. "The city's rate as measured by national criteria is still considered to be above average."

While the national survival to discharge rate averages between 3 and 6 percent, the city of Fredericksburg had a 14.8 percent survival to discharge rate.

"Fire Department personnel attribute this upward trend to several factors, including new American Heart Association guidelines, more frequent instances of CPR started by bystanders, in house training and advanced equipment," reads the memo. "The ongoing programs in Fredericksburg to train all city employees in CPR and place additional automated external defibrillators in public buildings are expected to contribute to the continuation of this positive trend."