5 Reasons to Learn CPR

 Would you know what to do or how to react if someone suddenly collapsed in front of you? Sudden heart attacks are amongst the most common cause of death in the world. Performing CPR can be the difference between life and death. You can’t assume that someone else will step in – that’s why it’s so important to learn CPR. Getting certified is easier than you think.

1. It Saves Lives

Each year in the UK approximately 30,000 people collapse with sudden cardiac arrest outside of hospital. Sudden cardiac arrest is defined as a condition in which the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. If this happens, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. SCA usually causes death if it's not treated within minutes. By performing CPR, you can aid the person’s blood and keep it circulating until an ambulance or defibrillator arrives. Research proves that the chance of surviving a sudden cardiac arrest increases by up to 50% when CPR is started early.

2. CPR Doesn’t Always Happen

Would it shock you to know that CPR is carried out by a bystander in less than half of all out-of-hospital cardiac arrests? A survey carried out by the British Heart Foundation revealed;

• The majority (62%) of UK adults said they would be worried about knowing what to do if they witnessed someone collapse and suffer a cardiac arrest in front of them
• 59% of those who were worried said they feared they would make things worse by trying to help
• Only 20% of people were able to correctly identify the 6 signs that someone has had a cardiac arrest
• Just over a third (37%) of people would be confident in performing immediate CPR if someone suffered a cardiac arrest in front of them.

3. No Kisses

Another reason people report they do not perform CPR is because of concerns performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. In 2010 the guidelines for performing CPR were changed, and they now say that those who do not feel comfortable, or who have not received formal training, should attempt hands-only CPR. We advocate performing chest compressions even without breathing assistance. Hands-only CPR has been shown to be just as effective for many adults who experience sudden cardiac arrest.

4. Hands-Only CPR is Easy to Learn

Probably the cleverest ad campaign we’ve seen in a long time, the British Heart foundation have launched their ‘Hard and Fast Hands-Only CPR’ campaign to inform members of the public that they CAN perform CPR regardless of any formal first aid training.

5. It will never hurt to know

It’s better to know CPR and never use it, than to need it and not know it! A lot of places offer training free of charge so there really is no reason not to learn.