MEDICAL INFORMATION

What is CPR?
CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. (Top)

When do you use CPR?
When a person can no longer breath on their own. In slightly more accurate terms, when a person is not breathing and has no pulse. (Top)

Why give CPR?
When a person stops breathing, they have only 4-6 minutes without air before lack of oxygen begins to cause brain death. performing CPR on a person, you can keep oxygen circulating through the body. (Top)

What is sudden cardiac arrest?
(SCA) Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) refers to a sudden loss of heart function, usually due to the heart beating in a very rapid or disorganized rhythm. This prevents the heart from pumping blood through the body. (Top)

How common is SCA?
More than 1200 people a day suffer from SCA in the United States. (Top)

What is an AED?
AED stands for Automated External Defibrillator It is used to restart the heart when it has stopped pumping blood effectively due to an electrical problem (SCA). (Top)

Why use an AED?
The only way to successfully treat SCA is to use a defibrillation device. (Top)

Why learn how to use an AED?
Already AEDs can be found in many places. Governments are now mandating that AEDs be available in many places. For example they can be found in many:

• airports
• public/government buildings
• schools and stadiums
• commercial aircraft
• private businesses
• private individuals

Why learn CPR when you learn how to use an AED?
Often before an AED arrives it is important to keep oxygen rich blood flowing to the victim. Also after use of the AED has help the heart restart, in many cases you must continue to provide CPR in order to keep blood flowing through the body. (Top)