HISTORY OF NATIONAL CPR AND AED AWARENESS WEEK
National CPR and AED Awareness Week was first initiated in 2007, following a partnership between the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, and the National Safety Council to highlight the importance of learning C.P.R. and A.E.D. techniques to save lives.
Knowing C.P.R. techniques or how to properly use A.E.D.s can be the difference between life and death for those who have experienced sudden medical emergencies. It only takes up to four to six minutes without oxygen for the brain to experience damage, therefore the time of response, and proper execution of these measures, are crucial in potentially saving many lives around the world. Both actions should be performed only if a patient is proven to be non-responsive and stopped breathing.
C.P.R. and A.E.D.s are useful in helping people who have suffered ailments such as cardiac arrests, asthma attacks, diabetes, strokes, and allergic reactions. The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation notes that up to 356,000 cardiac arrests happen in the U.S. annually, with 90% of them fatal, and can take place anywhere, meaning that the more people who know C.P.R. are around, the better. Several states have also made it mandatory for workplaces to have A.E.D.s around for possible emergencies.
Waiting for emergency medical service workers (E.M.S.) to arrive at the scene and deal with the matter will take time. If you or someone around you knows C.P.R. or how to operate a defibrillator, it can make an important difference for the patient. You would be surprised at the willingness of strangers to come help when someone is experiencing a medical emergency, and you can be one of them. It’s never pleasant seeing someone at the cusp of death, and so, the actions of C.P.R.-trained individuals can help prevent emergencies from getting worse. All it takes is a willingness to learn how.
