WMFD holds ‘hands only’ CPR classes for adult, teens

CPR kits donated by American College of Cardiology

By DONALD WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

The West Memphis Fire Department recently received a donation from the American College of Cardiology that will bene_t the entire community. The donation consisted of “Hands only” CPR kits, which were distributed to the _re department with the intention of providing them to the residents of West Memphis. In a joint effort with the local chamber of commerce, the _re department organized a hands-only CPR class to educate the public on this life-saving technique.

“Statistics show that 350,000 people die each year in the United States from sudden cardiac arrest, with a staggering 90 percent mortality rate.” says Division EMS Chief Chuck Brakensiek of the WMFD, “Most cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital setting, and only a small percentage of patients receive bystander CPR. However, receiving CPR from a bystander can triple a person’s chances of survival.”

The West Memphis Fire Department partnered with Methodist University to launch a community-wide initiative to teach hands-only CPR. By eliminating the need for mouth-tomouth resuscitation, hands-only CPR simpli_es the process and encourages more people to get involved. In collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce, local businesses were enlisted to participate in the training and receive the CPR kits to share with their employees, families, schools, and places of worship.

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In addition to reaching out to the adult population, the WMFD also incorporated hands-only CPR training into their summer jobs program for teens. Plans are in place to offer more classes once the school year resumes, with a focus on educating students and city employees.

Hands-only CPR in eight simple steps

■ ■ Have someone call 9-11 and get an AED (Automated External Defibrillator)

■ ■ Ensure the person is on their back on a firm, flat surface.

■ ■ Kneel beside the person. With your knees about shoulder-width apart.

■ ■ Use correct hand placement. Place the heel of one hand in the center of their chest, with your other hand on top. Interlace your fingers and make sure they are up off the chest.

■ ■ Use correct body position. Position your body so that your shoulders are directly over your hands. Lock your elbows to keep your arms straight.

■ ■ Give continuous compressions. Push hard and fast (at least 2 inches; 100 to 120 compressions per minute).

■ ■ Allow chest to return to its normal position after each compression.

■ ■ Use an AED as soon as it is available.

Not only are West Memphis teens gaining valuable job experience during the Summer Jobs program but many are learning to save a life as well.

Photo by WMFD