The inaugural "National Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Awareness Week" observance June 1-7 spotlights the need for all Americans to learn critical lifesaving skills. Congress passed a resolution for the observance last year recognizing that lives could be saved by administering CPR or by using an AED, but few people know how to do either.
Consider the following facts from the American Heart Association (AHA):
§ Each year an estimated 166,000 lives are claimed by sudden cardiac arrest.
§ Only about six percent of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest victims survive.
§ Fewer than one-third of cardiac arrest victims receive CPR.
§ Effective CPR can double or triple survival rates.
§ A recent AHA survey shows that few Americans are confident they could perform CPR and use an AED to help save a life in an emergency cardiac situation.
Human Kinetics has teamed up with the American Safety & Health Institute (ASHI) to offer several options for professionals, coaches and community individuals to become CPR and AED certified, combining online self study with instructor-led training and competency assessment.
Complete Emergency Care is the first and only emergency care training course developed specifically for physical activity professionals and volunteers.
Emergency Care for Aquatic Personnel provides the same baseline curriculum for situations lifeguards and other aquatic personnel face on the job.
CPR/AED for Coaches will be offered for the 2008-09 school year through the American Sport Education Program (ASEP), allowing high school coaches to fulfill first aid and CPR requirements in one place.
In each course, participants role-play situations they will likely face on the job for a more applicable understanding of the material. The courses are comprised of four segments: bloodborne pathogens, basic first aid, CPR and AED training (at either the professional or community level), and emergency oxygen.
Each course is supplemented with content from Complete Emergency Care the first text to combine training in CPR and AED, first aid, bloodborne pathogens, and emergency oxygen in one book-allowing readers to grasp the content and be better prepared to take action using the proper protocol in medical emergency situations. The courses are also available with the Family and Friends CPR Kit from the American Heart Association. This personal learning kit is an innovative way to provide a student with a portable, realistic personal manikin for CPR practice.
For more information on any of these life-saving resources, contact Human Kinetics at 800.747.4457 or visit www.HumanKinetics.com.
