CPR AND AED AWARENESS
Dayton, Ohio, July 19, 2007 – “What’s the value of a life?” asks Tom Fodor, CEO of the American Red Cross, Dayton Area Chapter. There is no greater gift, and as we remember Tim Russert and the many others who suffer heart sudden cardiac arrests each day, the Red Cross wants as many citizens as possible to learn CPR techniques and the proper use of an automated external defibrillator.
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, claiming a life nearly every two minutes. The Red Cross is facilitating business and individual purchases of AEDs (automated external defibrillator) and including AED training in all of its CPR programs.
Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Claiming another victim nearly every two minutes, more than 460,000 Americans die of sudden cardiac arrest every year. The cause of sudden cardiac arrest is not well understood. Many victims have no history of heart disease. Unlike a heart attack, which is the death of muscle tissue from loss of blood supply, many victims of SCA have no prior symptoms. SCA can strike anyone, at any time, anywhere.
Supporting its primary mission of saving lives, the American Red Cross takes a leadership role in promoting sudden cardiac arrest awareness and facilitating the purchase of and training on automated external defibrillator (AED). It is estimated that 25% (50,000) of SCA deaths could have been prevented if someone had initiated the Cardiac Chain of Survival, and an automated external defibrillator had been available for immediate use at the time of the emergency. Unfortunately, in Russert's case, medical staff used an AED , but it was unsuccessful in reviving the popular NBC anchor and host of "Meet the Press."
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Can Strike Anyone, Anywhere At Anytime!
The American Red Cross has a vision that at least one member of every household is trained in First Aid, CPR and AED, and that all Americans should be within 4 minutes of an AED. The curriculum of every Adult and Child CPR course has been updated to incorporate defibrillation skills and information. These interactive courses are taught by certified Red Cross instructors and use hands-on practice scenarios and videos that reflect a variety of situations. Class participants are taught the “cardiac chain of survival,” a series of four critical steps that significantly enhance the likelihood that a victim of cardiac arrest will survive.
- Step one: Early access to care (calling 9-1-1 or another emergency number)
- Step two: Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
- Step three: Early defibrillation utilizing an AED
- Step four: Early advanced cardiac life support, as needed
What’s a Life Worth?
To meet its mission of saving lives, the Red Cross has established relationships with AED manufacturers to facilitate the purchase of AED units for the office environment and for the personal home. The Dayton Area Chapter is also working with Guardian Finance Company, to help with special financing options for individual consumers. Utilizing 90 days same as cash and affordable monthly payments for up to three years, home/personal AED units can be purchased for $40-$50 a month.
The Dayton Area Chapter of the American Red Cross invites you to learn more about the technology and training that could save the life of a co-worker, family member or a friend by contacting us at (937) 222-6711 or visiting us online at www.dac.redcross.org.
About the American Red Cross, Dayton Area Chapter
The Dayton Area Chapter of the American Red Cross provides disaster preparedness and response, and health and safety education to residents of Montgomery, Greene and Preble counties, as well as assistance to families with members in the military. The Chapter also operates Emergency Housing Programs in Montgomery and Greene counties, and led by volunteers, responds to more than 200 local disaster incidents each year.
All local Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of area disasters by making a financial gift to the Dayton Area Chapter, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Contributions may be sent to the Dayton Area Chapter, P.O. Box 517, Dayton, Ohio. Internet users can make secure online credit card donations by visiting www.dac.redcross.org.
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