Hamlin heart scare boosts CPR training
Interest rises after Buffalo Bills player went into cardiac arrest on the field
Interest in cardiopulmonary resuscitation courses is rising after Buffalo Bills football player Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the playing field during an NFL game two weeks ago.
A number of Detroit-area organizations offer the training, which often include instruction on how to use an automated external defibrillator.
AEDs are designed to reverse lethal heart rhythms, and CPR helps keep oxygen flowing to the brain and other vital organs until other treatment is administered, according to a release from Medstar, a Michiganbased emergency medical service provider.
“With a few hours of training, anyone can learn CPR and operate an AED,” says Kolby Miller, Medstar CEO. “CPR and AED use are so easy to learn, and are the two most important factors in cardiac arrest survival.”
Medstar provides free CPR training and donates AEDs to schools, churches, community centers and public gathering places, the release said. For more information, go to https://www.medstarambulance.org/.
A state program designed to prepare school officials for heart emergencies is also receiving more interest. In addition to encouraging CPR and AED training, the MI HEART Safe School Program helps schools acquire needed AEDs to act quickly in an emergency.
A virtual workshop for school officials that teaches the importance of being prepared for a cardiac emergency already has 240 registrants, with two weeks remaining to register. Last year, the event drew 235 participants, said Lynn Sutfin, spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
The MI HEART Safe School Program has certified 713 schools in its nine-year history. Schools obtain certification by meeting a number of criteria, such as having current CPR/AED certification of at least 10% of staff and 50% of coaches, including 100% of head varsity coaches and physical educa-
tion staff.
For more information on the program, go https://migrc.org/.
The American Red Cross, one of the largest providers of CPR/AED classes, says the courses are not just for health care workers or emergency responders.
“With a half-million cardiac arrests each year, CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) can help save a life if a person’s breathing or heart stops, the Red Cross says on its website.
“CPR can double or triple the chance of survival when bystanders take action. The American Red Cross helps train you safely, effectively and confidently, so you’re prepared for the minutes that matter the most.