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Good Samaritan Laws and Bystander CPR

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There are many reasons people give when asked why they’re hesitant to perform CPR on a stranger. These range from causing additional injury to exposing someone in public. However, the benefits far outweigh any potential risks.

More than 325,000 people go into cardiac arrest in the United States every year, and immediate CPR significantly lowers the risk of death, brain damage, or other lasting injury.

Read More: Why Don’t Bystanders Perform CPR?

One of the most common reasons people don’t provide CPR in public is the fear of legal prosecution should they cause further injury. However, there are legal protections against this kind of prosecution.

What Are Good Samaritan Laws?

Good Samaritan laws protect bystanders who perform CPR
photo credit: @huy-phan-316220 accessed 11/30/22 via CC0

Every state in the country has a “Good Samaritan” law of some kind. The specifics vary, but in general, these laws provide legal protection to people who provide reasonable assistance for someone who is experiencing an injury or emergency.

In short, if you are providing CPR to the best of your knowledge and ability, the likelihood that you will be held legally responsible for any additional injury is minimal. (If you have any questions about a specific situation or case, please contact an attorney.)

If you encounter someone who is in cardiac arrest, call 9-1-1 and provide help to the best of your ability. A CPR training course can help you be more prepared should you find yourself in this situation. Sign up for an in-person, virtual, or on-demand CPR course today!

Register for a CPR Course

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR, First Aid, CNA, IV, EKG and more.

HeartCert CPR courses include CPR/AED/First Aid, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Certified Nursing Assistant training, IV training, EKG training, babysitter basics and more. Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.

We are now offering virtual CPR courses and certifications. We offer safe in-person courses at all HeartCert locations throughout the United States, including our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

This is an updated blog post that was originally published in 2019.

Why Every Business Should Have an AED Onsite

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Sudden cardiac arrest occurs suddenly and without warning, and its effects are immediate. If a patient does not immediately receive treatment, sudden cardiac arrest results in significant disability or death. This is why it’s so important for businesses of all types and sizes to have an Automatic External Defibrillator, or AED onsite and in good working condition – and for employees and the public to have the ability and knowledge to use it.

What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

A sudden cardiac arrest is triggered by a malfunction of the heart’s electrical system. This produces abnormal heart rhythms and disrupts the heart’s ability to pump blood throughout the body, resulting in a loss of blood flow to the brain and other vital organs.

According to the FDA, the probability of survival decreases by 7 to 10 percent for every minute that a person is in sudden cardiac arrest. It’s vitally important to equip professionals and bystanders alike with the ability and tools they need to perform lifesaving interventions.

an aed onsite at a business
Image by Paul Brennan from Pixabay

Why Businesses Need an AED Onsite

An AED is a critical step in the out-of-hospital chain of survival. AEDs deliver an electrical shock, called defibrillation, that restores the heart to its normal rhythm and restarts blood flow. Having an AED onsite is one of the best and easiest ways to protect employees and the public from the devastation of sudden cardiac arrest.

Register for an AED Training Course

AEDs are fairly easy to use, but training is recommended in order to deliver defibrillation safely and quickly. HeartCert offers an all-in-one CPR/AED/first aid training course. Learn these lifesaving skills in one convenient session! In-person, hybrid, and virtual CPR training options are available.

HeartCert also sells AEDs! Visit our shop page and contact us with any questions.

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR, First Aid, CNA, IV, EKG and more.

HeartCert CPR courses include CPR/AED/First Aid, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Certified Nursing Assistant training, IV training, EKG training, babysitter basics and more. Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.

We are now offering virtual CPR courses and certifications. We offer safe in-person courses at all HeartCert locations throughout the United States, including our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

6 CPR Facts You May Not Know

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How much do you know about CPR? Test your knowledge with a few basic CPR facts.

6 CPR Facts You Should Know

person performing CPR on a dummy. CPR facts you should know.
photo credit: @flexpointsecurity accessed 10/30/22 via CC0

1. More than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital setting in the U.S. every year.

This means that there are more than 350,000 people who need lifesaving CPR from a family member or bystander in order to survive.

2. Most cardiac arrests take place in the home.

Among cardiac arrests that occur outside of a hospital setting, the majority (70%) take place in a home or private residence. About 18% take place in a public setting, and 11% occur in nursing homes. The life you save could be your parent’s, spouse’s, or child’s.

Read: Actor Says CPR, AED Saved His Life

3. CPR saves lives and improves outcomes.

If it is performed immediately, CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. In addition, it helps keep blood flowing to the brain and other organs, reducing the risk of permanent brain damage or other disability.

4. Bystander CPR is underused.

Less than half of people who experience sudden cardiac arrest receive help, in the form of CPR or AED use, before emergency professionals arrive.

Read: The Out-of-Hospital Chain of Survival

5. The out of hospital survival rate is low.

Ultimately, only about 10 percent of people who suffer from cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting survive. As more people become trained in CPR and AED use, the survival rate will likely improve.

6. It’s easy to get CPR certified.

HeartCert offers hybrid and virtual CPR training courses that allow you to complete part or all of the coursework on your own schedule. Our CPR certification classes are AHA and American Red Cross certified, and combine CPR, AED and first aid into one convenient class.

You could save a life! Sign up for CPR training with HeartCert today.

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR, First Aid, CNA, IV, EKG and more.

HeartCert CPR courses include CPR/AED/First Aid, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Certified Nursing Assistant training, IV training, EKG training, babysitter basics and more. Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.

We are now offering virtual CPR courses and certifications. We offer safe in-person courses at all HeartCert locations throughout the United States, including our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

Source: American Heart Association, “CPR Facts & Stats”

6 CPR Facts You May Not Know

by Leave a Comment

How much do you know about CPR? Test your knowledge with a few basic CPR facts.

6 CPR Facts You Should Know

person performing CPR on a dummy. CPR facts you should know.
photo credit: @flexpointsecurity accessed 10/30/22 via CC0

1. More than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital setting in the U.S. every year.

This means that there are more than 350,000 people who need lifesaving CPR from a family member or bystander in order to survive.

2. Most cardiac arrests take place in the home.

Among cardiac arrests that occur outside of a hospital setting, the majority (70%) take place in a home or private residence. About 18% take place in a public setting, and 11% occur in nursing homes. The life you save could be your parent’s, spouse’s, or child’s.

Read: Actor Says CPR, AED Saved His Life

3. CPR saves lives and improves outcomes.

If it is performed immediately, CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. In addition, it helps keep blood flowing to the brain and other organs, reducing the risk of permanent brain damage or other disability.

4. Bystander CPR is underused.

Less than half of people who experience sudden cardiac arrest receive help, in the form of CPR or AED use, before emergency professionals arrive.

Read: The Out-of-Hospital Chain of Survival

5. The out of hospital survival rate is low.

Ultimately, only about 10 percent of people who suffer from cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting survive. As more people become trained in CPR and AED use, the survival rate will likely improve.

6. It’s easy to get CPR certified.

HeartCert offers hybrid and virtual CPR training courses that allow you to complete part or all of the coursework on your own schedule. Our CPR certification classes are AHA and American Red Cross certified, and combine CPR, AED and first aid into one convenient class.

You could save a life! Sign up for CPR training with HeartCert today.

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR, First Aid, CNA, IV, EKG and more.

HeartCert CPR courses include CPR/AED/First Aid, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Certified Nursing Assistant training, IV training, EKG training, babysitter basics and more. Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.

We are now offering virtual CPR courses and certifications. We offer safe in-person courses at all HeartCert locations throughout the United States, including our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

Source: American Heart Association, “CPR Facts & Stats”

Can Watching Sports Increase Heart Attack Risk?

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Fall is the season of changing leaves, apple picking, back to school, and football. If you spend every Sunday (and Monday, and Thursday) watching football, it’s important to be mindful of your health. Don’t eat too much fried food, stand up at commercial breaks, and manage your stress. Here are a few ways that watching sports can affect your heart – and tips on how to mitigate those effects.

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How Watching Sports Affects the Heart

Researchers have found an increase in heart attacks and arrhythmias and heart attacks during major sporting events like the Superbowl and World Cup. This is due to the stress and emotion we experience when watching a game.

When a game gets suspenseful or takes a disappointing turn, fans often feel stress. These feelings of stress and anger essentially trigger a fight-or-flight response, which causes heart rate and blood pressure to increase. All of these factors can trigger a cardiovascular event.

fans watching sports
photo credit: @koff accessed 9/6/22 via CC0

How to Manage Stress During a Big Game

If you experience high levels of stress while watching sports, take steps to manage and reduce those intense feelings. Take deep breaths, do a few stretches, and step away for a few minutes if needed. Also, try to eat healthy before and during the game, and limit the amount of alcohol you consume.

If you’re still feeling frustrated and angry after the game ends, channel it into physical activity to help release the stress.

Protect Your Health with CPR

Take care of your fellow football fans by learning hands-only CPR. You could save a life!

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR, First Aid, CNA, IV, EKG and more.

HeartCert CPR courses include CPR/AED/First Aid, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Certified Nursing Assistant training, IV training, EKG training, babysitter basics and more. Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.

We are now offering virtual CPR courses and certifications. We offer safe in-person courses at all HeartCert locations throughout the United States, including our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

This is an updated blog post that was originally published in 2018.

Are BLS and Heartsaver CPR Courses the Same?

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If you’re considering a CPR training course, whether you’re required to by an employer or simply want to learn how to save a life, you may be confused by the options available to you. What’s the difference between BLS and ACLS? What is PALS? What about Heartsaver?

One of the most common questions we get is in regard to BLS and Heartsaver courses and how they differ. We’ll answer that question here today.

BLS vs. Heartsaver: What’s the Difference?

BLS vs Heartsaver CPR training course
photo credit: @raven-domingo-66737910 accessed 8/3/22 via CC0

What is BLS?

BLS stands for Basic Life Support. In this class, participants learn one and two person CPR skills for adults, children and infants. You will also learn how to clear the airway of a conscious or unconscious person, and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

Another focus of BLS courses is recognizing the signs and symptoms of cardiac arrest and respiratory distress, and how to respond to emergencies and life-threatening symptoms. Because BLS courses are geared toward health care providers and emergency responders, it is expected that participants will, at some point, be called upon to use these skills in an emergency situation.

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What is Heartsaver?

In comparison, the Heartsaver course is geared toward those who don’t work in a healthcare setting but may be called upon to perform CPR, or who are required to be trained and certified in CPR as a condition of employment. This can include teachers, childcare providers, coaches, parents or caregivers, or anyone who wants to learn CPR.

Heartsaver course participants learn the same basic CPR and first aid skills that are taught in BLS courses, without some of the more advanced techniques included in BLS coursework. You will leave a Heartsaver class knowing how to perform CPR, administer an AED, and do basic first aid. It is a valuable course for anyone, regardless of their employment setting!

If you have questions about which HeartCert CPR course is right for you, contact us today.

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR, ACLS, PALS, EMR, First Aid, CNA, IV, EKG and more.

HeartCert CPR courses include CPR/AED/First Aid, Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Certified Nursing Assistant training, IV training, EKG training, babysitter basics and more. Courses and certifications from both the American Heart Association and American Red Cross are available.

We are now offering virtual CPR courses and certifications. We offer safe in-person courses at all HeartCert locations throughout the United States, including our headquarters, HeartCert CPR Eagan.

This is an updated blog post that was originally published in 2014.