It’s no secret that Huntsville is projected to be the largest city in Alabama within the next few years. The economy is booming, restaurant and retail establishments are popping up all over town and new jobs are being created by the thousands. All this growth is exciting, but one aspect few individuals consider during an economic surge like this is the increased need for emergency medical services.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA)-- an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat and disrupts the flow of blood to the brain, lungs and other organs-- is a leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for 325,000 deaths each year. As Huntsville’s population grows, unfortunately, it can be expected the number of SCA incidents will increase with it.
How can we help combat SCA and keep our community safe? It’s simple-- learn CPR, download the PulsePoint mobile app and help save lives.
Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), is an emergency life-saving procedure performed when an individual’s breathing or heartbeat suddenly stops. Becoming CPR-trained enables individuals to assist in saving someone’s life as they await an emergency teams’ arrival and encourages citizens to step up with integrity in emergency situations, whether a medical professional or not.
When a person experiences sudden cardiac arrest, survival depends on how quickly service can be given to the victim, either through CPR, and aid of an automatic emergency defibrillator (AED), or from an emergency medical technician (EMT). . Without oxygen-rich blood, permanent brain damage or death can occur in less than eight minutes, and there is little chance of successful resuscitation after 10 minutes. However, The American Heart Association estimates that effective bystander CPR, provided immediately after sudden cardiac arrest, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.
There are multiple CPR training options in Madison County including on-site and online services. Once you’ve completed your training and get your certification, you can download the PulsePoint app and begin receiving notifications when someone nearby is suffering SCA. Be the difference for someone in your community-- you could save a life!
CPR Training Opportunities in Madison County:
YMCA’s across Madison and Huntsville
American Red Cross | Huntsville
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