CPR training

6 CPR Facts You May Not Know

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?

3 years ago by tims Leave a Comment

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.

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.

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

Are BLS and Heartsaver CPR Courses the Same?

3 years ago by tims Leave a Comment

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.

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

Four Reasons to Learn CPR

3 years ago by bwadmin Leave a Comment

If you don’t work in healthcare, or with children or vulnerable adults, or in any other setting in which CPR training is required, it may seem like there is no real reason to learn CPR. But that’s not the case. There is a very real need for laypeople to be trained in CPR and ready to perform it should they encounter a person in cardiac arrest or distress.

reasons to learn CPR — photo credit: @artisticoperations-4161274 accessed 7/1/22 via CC0

Here are a few of the many reasons why you should take a CPR/AED training course.

Why Should I Learn CPR?

1. Most Cardiac Arrests Happen at Home

More than 85 percent of cardiac arrests take place in the home. With more than 300,000 instances of cardiac arrest every year in the U.S., there is a significant likelihood that you may need CPR to save the life of your parent, spouse, or other family member.

2. CPR Protects Against Long-Term Disability

Performing CPR immediately following cardiac arrest helps blood circulate until emergency responders arrive. This protects vital organs, including the brain, from significant damage.

Read: 4 Reasons to Offer CPR Training to Employees

3. More Bystander CPR is Needed

Bystander CPR – when CPR is performed by a layperson outside of a healthcare setting – is performed in fewer than half of all cardiac arrests in the U.S. Many more lives could be saved if more people were trained and ready to perform CPR when needed.

4. It’s Easy to Learn CPR

CPR training courses are more accessible than ever. With in-person, virtual, and private options, you can learn CPR on your schedule and in just a few hours.

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

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

This blog post was originally published in 2019 and has been updated.

Heart-Healthy Hybrid Work

3 years ago by bwadmin Leave a Comment

Over the last few years, employees have adapted to remote work. Some love the freedom and solitude of working from home, while others have been itching to get back into the office. In an effort to strike a balance, many companies have adopted hybrid work setups, with a few days in the office each week and the others at home.

Now, employees must figure out a new routine for hybrid work – and how to stay healthy, happy, and productive in each setting. We have a few tips.

How to Maintain a Healthy Hybrid Work Routine

heart-healthy hybrid work — photo credit: @benchaccounting accessed 7/1/22 via CC0

According to the American Heart Association, workers should maintain the same healthy work habits, no matter the setting. These include:

Create a healthy workspace. Make sure you have an ergonomic setting with good lighting and a supportive chair. While working from the couch can feel like a nice break, it can cause harm in the long term.

Which States Mandate CPR Training in Schools?

3 years ago by bwadmin Leave a Comment

When it comes to CPR, there are three known facts. First, when CPR is performed immediately after cardiac arrest, it doubles or even triples the chances of survival. Second, that occurs in less than 10 percent of cardiac arrests that occur outside of a hospital setting. Third, CPR training increases the likelihood that a bystander will be ready and able to perform CPR when the need arises. This lifesaving opportunity is the driving force behind the American Heart Association’s CPR in Schools program.

What is CPR in Schools?

CPR in Schools is an initiative from the American Heart Association to train students in CPR, AED use, and choking relief. The training is specifically aimed at young learners, and was designed to be completed in just one class period. It comes with a toolkit that can train 10 to 20 students at once. Training can be repurposed for different classes and grade levels.

Schedule On-Site CPR Training with HeartCert

Does Your State Mandate CPR Training in School?

About 10 years ago, there was a significant effort to mandate CPR training as part of high school graduation requirements. Today, the majority of states have enacted laws requiring CPR education in schools.

In HeartCert’s home state of Minnesota, for example, students must take part in CPR training in order to graduate from high school. School districts are required to provide a onetime CPR and AED training to students at some point between grades 7 and 12.

Schools are not required to use the AHA’s CPR in Schools materials. They can set up training from a local provider such as HeartCert. Learn more about our on-site CPR/AED training options here.

HeartCert CPR is your trusted training partner for CPR. We also train in ACLS, PALS, EMR, First Aid, CNA, IV, EKG and more, in Minnesota and throughout the United States.

We are now offering virtual CPR courses and certifications. We also 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

6 CPR Facts You Should Know

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

2. Most cardiac arrests take place in the home.