They really can!!! The next three Hands-Only CPR Classes are scheduled for February 17, March 17, and April 17
Here’s what to expect at the class:
Where knowing Hands-Only CPR could save a life
The family is enjoying Thanksgiving dinner when suddenly, Uncle Joe grabs his chest and falls to the floor without a sound. He is not responsive and is not breathing. Chances are Uncle Joe’s heart has stopped beating, and he is in cardiac arrest. According to Capt. Chris. Strobach, of the Taney County Ambulance District (TCAD), outside of a hospital, cardiac arrest survival runs lower than 10 percent, and about 70% of them occur in the home.
Purpose of Hands-Only CPR
Strobach shared that information at the beginning of a recent Hands-Only CPR Course offered under a collaboration between the Rotary Club of Hollister and TCAD with assistance from the Hollister Area Chamber of Commerce. He quickly explains that with the immediate application of Hands-Only CPR and defibrillation, survival rates can rise to as high as 50% or more. The purpose of Hands-Only CPR is not to get the heart beating again. It’s to get oxygen to the brain.
He said, “The reality is that most people that suffer Cardiac Arrest still have oxygen present in the blood stream. What it’s not doing is circulating so we prioritize compressions to keep that oxygen circulating to keep the brain alive until we can restart the heart.”
Check for reponsiveness
Strobeck teaches that the first thing to do is check for responsiveness. A person in cardiac arrest will be totally unresponsive. They won’t talk to you, and you won’t hear them making any verbal noise. Once unresponsiveness is determined, check for one more component, breathing. Listen and feel for breath for about five to ten seconds. If there is none, it’s time to immediately start compressions.
Hands-Only-CPR Procedure
The Hands-Only CPR procedure taught teaches the person giving the compressions to:
- Dial 911, place the phone on speaker, and set it where they can hear it.
- Kneel beside the person who needs help.
- Place the heel of one hand on the center of the chest.
- Place the heel of the other hand on top of the first hand, then lace your fingers together.
- Position your body so your shoulders are directly over your hands, and keep your arms locked straight. Use your body weight to help deliver the compressions at least 2 inches deep at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute. A general guide to helping achieve the proper rate of compressions is to do them to the beat of the song “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees. Keep the compressions going until a trained responder, or EMS professional tells you to stop because they are ready to take over.
Free courses scheduled for February 17, March 17, and April 17, 2022.
The course is free, takes about an hour, and is typically offered on the third Thursday of the month at the Taney County Ambulance District, 106 Industrial Park Drive, Hollister. The next three classes are scheduled for February 17, March 17, and April 17, 2022.
To get more information or enroll, please contact the Hollister Chamber of Commerce through their website at www. hollisterchamber.net/ or by calling 417.334.3050.
