University of Iowa Health Science Relations and
Lance Heern, RN
Emergency Medical Services Learning Resources Center
First Published: November 2000
Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed

Does cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) save lives? A group of young Iowa heroes knows for a fact that it does.

 

While giving swimming lessons at a municipal pool, lifeguards noticed a swimmer at the bottom of the pool. They pulled him from the pool, called 911 and started CPR. The lifeguards successfully resuscitated the young boy, who made a full recovery.

 

In an effort to help save more lives, the American Heart Association trains thousands of people in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) each year.

 

"When performed effectively, CPR can double a sudden cardiac arrest victim's chances of surviving," said Lance Heern, a staff member in the Emergency Medical Services Learning Resources Center at the UI Hospitals and Clinics.

 

Cardiovascular disease is the nation's No. 1 killer, and many deaths--about 220,000 per year--occur suddenly and without warning due to sudden cardiac arrest. A victim is likely to die within minutes if CPR and defibrillation do not occur. CPR can add critical minutes to a sudden cardiac arrest victim's life by pumping blood and oxygen to vital organs such as the heart, brain and lungs. The signs of sudden cardiac arrest include an abrupt loss of consciousness, collapse and the loss of normal breathing. The majority of all sudden cardiac arrests occur at home (75-80 percent) and only about five percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims survive.

 

In addition to training thousands of National CPR Weekend participants, the American Heart Association's basic and advanced life support courses are used to train more than six million people each year. The courses are provided through a network of 3,500 training centers and 250,000 instructors. The American Heart Association's courses have been taught throughout the U.S. for more than 30 years.

 

National CPR Weekend is an important program supporting Operation Heartbeat, the American Heart Association's national grassroots initiative designed to increase the sudden cardiac arrest survival rate. Operation Heartbeat encourages people to learn the signs of sudden cardiac arrest, call 9-1-1 immediately and perform CPR. Operation Heartbeat also promotes the availability and use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which provide an electric shock that can reverse the deadly heart rhythm present during most sudden cardiac arrests.

 

The American Heart Association spent about $337 million during fiscal year 1999-2000 on research support, public and professional education, and community programs. Nationwide, the association has grown to include more than 22.5 million volunteers and supporters who carry out its mission in communities across the country. The association is the largest voluntary health organization fighting heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases, which annually kill about 950,000 Americans.