PALATINE MARKETING AGENCY STAFFERS BECOME CPRers TO TACKLE CARDIAC ARREST HANDS ON

PALATINE MARKETING AGENCY STAFFERS BECOME CPRers TO TACKLE CARDIAC ARREST HANDS ON

How you deal with stress has never been more important. According to the American Heart Association, each year more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States. Cardiac arrest, an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and disrupts the flow of blood to the brain, lungs and other organs, is a leading cause of death.

“We learned that you’ve got less than 10 minutes to react to a cardiac arrest,” said Jim Nowakowski, President of Interline Creative Group in Palatine, IL who organized the training for his company. “It’s something everyone should know how to handle, even outside the workplace.”

The half-day training was conducted by Joyce McKay, a Certified CPR & AED Instructor for Green Guard®, a St. Louis-based company that provides services and products to satisfy the First Aid and Safety needs of businesses and employees.

“If you are called on to give CPR in an emergency, you will most likely be trying to save the life of someone you love: a child, a spouse, a parent or a friend,” McKay explained. “And even though 70 percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in homes, only about 46% of people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest get the immediate help that they need before professional help arrives.”

The training was comprised of interactivity and training films that addressed the steps involved in the administration of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). After assessing the person and the scene, Interline staff members learned that 100 to 120 compressions per minute were required if CPR was to be administrated properly.

“You might not think that’s a lot, but try it sometime,” Nowakowski commented. “It’s unbelievable, and that’s why Joyce encouraged the team approach – having more than one person to relieve each other while the AED to be used is sent for. It makes you appreciate the heart as a pump. In fact, doing CPR, you become the pump.”

Interline learned that an AED (automated external defibrillator) applies shock if necessary to the person under cardiac arrest. The AED actually tells people what to do, when to do it.

“That first ten minutes is critical,” Nowakowski said. “We had a terrific session, and we are confident we can apply the techniques if called upon to do so.”

CAPTION:

Jim Nowakowski, President of Interline, holds “Betty” the practice dummy used in the CPR training session with an insert photo of all the staff that was trained by Joyce McKay (far right, standing).