Chesapeake In The Know

It takes mere minutes for Chesapeake first responders to reach you after you call 911. But when it comes to sudden cardiac arrest, literally every second matters. That’s why they encourage everyone to know about hands-only CPR.

If you witness someone collapse, lose consciousness, and become unresponsive, act immediately. Your first step should always be to call 9-1-1 (or have someone nearby do it for you). Then start chest compressions. CPR no longer includes mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, just firm, regular compressions to the chest. Compress to the beat of songs like Stayin’ Alive, Eye of the Tiger, or even Baby Shark to give yourself the perfect rate of compressions per minute.

Don’t be afraid to take action. There are laws that protect you from getting into trouble for trying to help save someone’s life.  And you won’t hurt them any more than a sudden cardiac arrest will. If someone is truly in cardiac arrest, they are going to die if no one takes action so it could be a matter of a couple of broken ribs or death.

The Chesapeake Fire Department offers free CPR training on the first Thursday of every month. It’s free and it only takes an hour. Learn more at CityofChesapeake.net/CPR.