October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month by Dr. Kim Nelson

31 Oct October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month by Dr. Kim Nelson

Sudden Cardiac Arrest effects over 350,00 people a year from every age group. It happens when the electrical activity of the heart becomes erratic and the heart stops pumping blood. Death will occur without blood and oxygen getting to vital organs like the brain and heart. The chance of survival is greatly improved if the quicker the blood starts circulating again. Only 18% of the population has current Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training with 65% having training at some time. You do not need to have a class to save a life! If an adult or teen won’t wake up and is not breathing normally, call 9-1-1 and then press hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of the Bee Gees song Stayin’ Alive. You do not need to blow into the person’s mouth for it to help. Pushing on the chest will move the blood which already has oxygen in it around the body. For infants and children, rescue breathing along with chest compressions will give the best chance for survival. Consider taking a CPR class or use a kit which you can practice at home to learn.

Adult & Child CPR Anytime Training Kits

http://www.stopcardiacarrest.org/

Dr. Kimberly Nelson has been a cardiac nurse for over 20 years with experience in the hospital, community and research practice areas. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s in Nursing from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia and Doctorate of Nursing Practice from University of Virginia in Charlottesville. She is certified as a Cardiac-Vascular Nurse, Adult Clinical Nurse Specialist, Heart Failure Nurse, Cardiac Care Coordinator and Registered Diagnostic Cardiac Sonographer. She is currently practicing as a Clinical Nurse Specialist at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia.