Would you know what to do in a cardiac emergency?  During the month of April, BJC Hospital is teaching community members to know how to respond by offering a reduced cost – $10 – cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) class.  The class is being offered through a partnership with the American Heart Association.
The class takes place on Apr. 25 at the Sullivan Fire Department, 6 South Church Street, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.  People interested in participating can call Michele Hartzell at 636-390-9718 or John O’Brien at 573-205-8048 to register.
Cardiovascular disease is the nation’s No. 1 killer and many deaths—about 250,000 per year—occur suddenly and without warning due to sudden cardiac arrest. A victim of sudden cardiac arrest is likely to die within minutes, if CPR and defibrillation do not occur. CPR can add critical minutes to a sudden cardiac arrest victim’s life by pumping blood and oxygen to vital organs such as the heart, brain and lungs.
The majority of all sudden cardiac arrests occur at home (75-80 percent) and only about five percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims survive. The signs of sudden cardiac arrest include an abrupt loss of consciousness, collapse and the loss of normal breathing.
“When performed effectively, CPR doubles the chance of survival. Taking a CPR class is a great opportunity for residents to learn a skill that may save the life of a friend or family member,” said Michele Hartzell, R.N.  “CPR is a vital, life-saving skill that everyone needs to know, and when your spouse, parent or child’s life is on the line, the training allows you to overcome your fear and act quickly and confidently.”
Instructors will train participants using the American Heart Association’s” Family and Friends” course. This is a community CPR course and does not meet CPR certification requirements of employment or require professional credentials.  However, the state Good Samaritan law protects all laypersons trained in CPR.
The course lasts about three hours and is based on the American Heart Association’s longstanding guidelines for CPR and emergency cardiovascular care.
In addition to training local residents, the American Heart Association’s life support courses are used to train more than six million people each year. The courses are provided through a network of 3,500 training centers and 250,000 instructors and are available year-round. Log onto local.americanheart.org for more course information.