The Edmonds Fire Department was dispatched to 100 calls in and around Edmonds the week of May 5-11, which brings this year’s call volume to 1,823. Medical crews evaluated 69 patients; fire crews responded to 31 incidents.
Hands-Only CPR
Aid crews evaluated 12 patients this week for cardiac-related events. Symptoms included chest pain, chest pressure, chest tightness and rapid heart rate.
Fifty percent of the patients were in their 50s or 60s; the youngest was 34 years old, the oldest 81. The group was comprised of seven women and five men; all but three were transported to Stevens Hospital.
Heart-related symptoms are common and can be life threatening. This year, the American Heart Association established guidelines for a new method of CPR called hands-only, or CCR. The new method stresses hard and fast chest compressions — instead of both compressions and mouth-to-mouth breathing. It is intended for laypersons or bystanders not trained in regular CPR or those unable or unwilling to provide rescue breaths.
According to the University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center (heart.arizona.edu), CCR should only be administered on adults who suddenly collapse, stop breathing, and are unresponsive. When this occurs, the odds are that the person is in cardiac arrest. In such cases, the patient still has ample air in the lungs and compressions will keep blood flowing to the brain, heart, and other organs.
The University of Washington (depts.washington.edu/learncpr) recommends two simple steps to conduct Hands-Only CPR:
Two simple steps
1. Call: Is the patient unresponsive? If so, call 911 and return to the patient. In most locations the emergency dispatcher can instruct you on how to give CPR.
2. Pump: If the patient is still not breathing normally, coughing, or moving, begin chest compressions. Push the center of the chest down one and one-half to two inches, and keep doing it. Pump at the rate of 100 pushes per minute. Continue until help arrives.
The Journal of the American Medical Association recently published that CCR has tripled survival rates and dramatically decreased brain damage in adults rescued by paramedics.
Local agencies that provide CPR classes are listed on the Edmonds Fire Department Web site (edmondsfire.org). Look for the CPR Classes link under the Public Connection column. Several class providers stated they still teach the traditional CPR method but are also discussing the new, CCR method.
For more information, visit the EFD Web site or call 425-771-0215.
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