Phone CPR a lifesaver; train our 911 operators

Less than half of people who experience a cardiac arrest outside of a medical setting receive CPR, significantly decreasing their chances of survival. Too often, bystanders simply do not have the skills to perform CPR or the confidence to make the decision to begin chest compressions.

When it comes to CPR, time is of the essence. The chance of survival decreases by 10 percent for every minute without lifesaving CPR support.

This is why the state of Florida must provide standardized telephone CPR training to all medical dispatchers. Providing consistent CPR instruction to 911 callers will dramatically increase cardiac arrest survival rates. Current studies show immediate bystander CPR can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.

Yet, less than half of the nation’s 911 medical dispatchers provide needed CPR coaching arrest situations.

The American Heart Association supports training and certifying all emergency medical dispatchers in Florida to assist 911 callers through the steps of CPR.

Given that cardiac arrest is the primary cause of death in the U.S., shouldn’t our 911 operators have the skills and training to effectively support callers in their time of need?

in

cardiac appears that is exactly what is happening.

These children are taken to shelters run by nongovernmental groups. Once a child has entered the shelter system, there is no firm process to determine whether they have been separated from someone who was legitimately their parent, or for reuniting parents and children. Homeland Security Secretary Kirsten Nielsen appears to back this policy.

As an American citizen, this appears to be a heartless and horrible punishment for these children. They are separated from their parents for months at a time, and in some cases may never be reunited.