Every second counts
Learning CPR with Formation RCR et Secourisme Québec: A choice that saves lives!
The reality is striking: roughly eight out of ten cardiac arrests occur outside hospital settings (AHA, n.d.). These heartbreaking events do not choose where they happen and can occur in a home or in a public place. In these moments, the swift action of a first responder is vital. The sooner Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) manoeuvres are started, the greater the victim's chances of survival. However, what is even more alarming is that, in the case of cardiac arrests outside hospital settings, CPR is performed by a first responder in only about 40% of cases (AHA, n.d.). Unfortunately, the vast majority of people do not intervene during cardiac emergencies due to a lack of skills, a fear of not performing the right actions, or of facing legal consequences if they accidentally injure the victim. This means that, all too often, precious seconds tick away with no life-saving intervention.
In short, in this article we will explain what CPR is specifically for and what its impact is on a victim's survival. Finally, we will present a few reasons why you should learn CPR and renew your certification regularly.
CPR is a crucial act that can make the difference between life and death. It involves manually compressing the heart muscle in order to restore blood circulation in a person suffering a cardiac arrest. This allows blood to flow to the vital organs, such as the heart, brain and lungs, and thus keeps the person alive until medical help arrives. Of course, the first step always remains to contact emergency services (9-1-1) as quickly as possible.
According to a study by the American Heart Association (AHA), CPR performed immediately by a bystander can double or even triple the victim's chances of survival (AHA, 2005). Having the self-confidence needed to act without hesitation when faced with a victim in cardiac arrest can make the difference between life and death. Learning CPR and updating your knowledge regularly gives you the ability to identify this type of emergency, to know what to do and to act without hesitation. In other words, a great many lives could be saved if more people were trained in CPR.
Moreover, according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the quality of life of victims who survived a cardiac arrest is considerably improved when first responders administered CPR before help arrived. 30 days after the incident, about 81% of survivors had maintained good brain function (Hasselqvist-Ax et al., 2015). In other words, by restoring blood circulation, the rescuer reduces the risk of serious cell damage, thereby underscoring the crucial importance of CPR.
Learning CPR is not only a useful skill for helping others in an emergency; it is also a valuable asset for yourself and your loved ones. You could be the person who makes the difference in a moment of crisis, saving the life of a loved one or even your own. As potential first responders, your awareness of CPR can truly save lives and improve the quality of life of those who desperately need it.
Although it is not necessary to be trained to use an automated external defibrillator (AED), training provides the knowledge needed to use it quickly and effectively. This is an essential skill, since according to a study published in the journal Circulation, the chances of survival after a cardiac arrest are 2 times higher when a bystander intervenes with an AED before emergency medical services arrive (J. S. Bækgaard et al. 2017).
Various obstacles can cause a bystander to a cardiac arrest to hesitate: disorientation in the face of the situation, fear of making a mistake, fear of injuring the victim further, and so on. Training provides the skills needed to identify the victim's condition, to know the procedure to follow and to put it into practice without hesitation. It is worth noting, however, that under the Good Samaritan Act, if the person who intervenes acts solely with the aim of providing assistance, they cannot be held liable for the damage their intervention may cause (Éducaloi, n.d.). In addition, certain injuries, such as breaking or fracturing ribs when chest compressions are deep enough, are very common. Of course, being trained considerably increases the chances of a successful intervention.
An emergency can be chaotic and panic-inducing, especially when lives are at stake. It can be difficult to determine what to do and where to start while not giving in to panic. Although this stress is normal, being trained in CPR and updating your knowledge regularly can greatly help you stay calm. With the knowledge needed to act in a crisis, the trained responder will be better able to manage the situation calmly in order to provide the necessary help to the victim. In addition, this also helps to inform the emergency dispatcher about the victim's condition in a clear and effective manner.
In short, by devoting a few hours of your time to learning CPR, you give many victims a better chance of survival. Don't wait—learn at your own pace starting today with our 100% online, self-paced courses!
American Heart Association. n.d. « CPR Facts & Stats ». URL: https://cpr.heart.org/en/resources/cpr-facts-and-stats
American Heart Association. 2005. « Part 4: Adult Basic Life Support ». Circulation. Vol. 112, no. 24, suppl., IV-19 to IV-34. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.166553
Éducaloi. n.d. « La responsabilité de la personne qui porte secours à quelqu'un ». URL: https://educaloi.qc.ca/capsules/la-responsabilite-de-la-personne-qui-porte-secours-a-quelquun/
Hasselqvist-Ax, I. et al. 2015. « Early Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest ». New England Journal of Medicine. Vol. 372, no. 24, 2307 to 2315. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa1405796
Josefine S. Bækgaard et al. 2017. « The Effects of Public Access Defibrillation on Survival After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest ». Circulation. Vol. 136, no. 10, 954-965. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.029067