October 16, 2020
October 16 is World Restart a Heart Day. A day to build awareness about the importance of learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Even though the Seattle Fire Department is not offering in-person CPR classes during this stage of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is important to review the simple and effective steps to perform hands-only CPR. Most out of hospital cardiac arrests happen at home. Bystander CPR can make a big difference.
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If you see someone collapse, follow these steps:
- Call 911 – Give specific information to the dispatcher, starting with the location. Is an AED available? If so, send someone to retrieve it and use it as soon as you can.
- Make sure the scene is safe
- Quickly determine if the person needs CPR – If the person is not responsive or not breathing normally – tap them on the shoulder and shout, “Are you ok. Are you ok?” If the person doesn’t move, speak, blink, or otherwise react, then he or she is not responding.
- Begin Chest Compressions – Use two hands, with straight arms, and push down hard and fast in the center of the chest. Make sure compressions are at least 2-inches deep, and are at the rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute. (list of songs with beats at this rate)
- Don’t stop compressions until help arrives or take turns with someone if you get tired
Hands-only CPR Resources:
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Need a song that is between 100-120 beats per minute? Check out this playlist.
This press release was produced by the Seattle Fire Department. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
