Chesapeake In The Know

Americans are more likely to have fatal heart attacks during the holiday season. In fact, Christmas Eve is the worst day of the year for heart attacks. While it takes mere minutes for Chesapeake first responders to reach you after you call 911, every second matters. If you’re not currently trained in hands-only CPR, put that on your list of things to learn in 2022. In the meantime, don’t let a lack of training stop you from jumping into action if you witness sudden cardiac arrest.

If you witness someone collapse, lose consciousness, and become unresponsive, act immediately. 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.