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Show Hospital makes CPU training a family affair vZ::: Ectecording to the Utah Bureau of '1th Statistics, each year, more 1 1800 Utahns die of heart at-'cs, at-'cs, and more than half of these ths occur before help arrives. Itdd to this number the hundreds deaths caused by drowning, Packing, suffocation and pulmonary ' ses, and it is evident that the 0F ic life support techniques of CPR y have helped to save many s. iiLs merican Fork Hospital is iing an effort to teach persons of ages the basic life support ning of CPR by sponsoring a ill cial CPR "family night" on lday, Feb. 8, from 6:30 to 8:30 i. amily members will learn to r'sfipgnize early warning signs of rt attack, respiratory arrest and 0 111 tructed airway. notdJie course includes a CPR video sentation, lecture and hands-on N ctice with life-like man, woman infant rescusi"dummies." A S Frs minimal fee of $7 per family helps cover the costs of instructor and supplies. Sons can earn the CPR requirement for the Lifesaving Merit Badge. "Anyone who is not physically impaired can learn CPR," says Vernitta Nuttal, R.N. and CPR instructor at American Fork Hospital. "It is important for all members of a family to know CPR in case of an emergency." Nuttal emphasizes that even a two or three-year-old child can learn the basic breathing techniques and could feasibly revive an infant. Children over the age of 10 can rescue an adult. For years, AFH has been emphasizing em-phasizing the importance of CPR training. All hospital employees are annually CPR-certified. One employee, Bill Street, was able to save a life this winter because of the training he received. Street was working at a part-time job in the kitchen of a restaurant, when he heard a commotion in the dining area. "She's not breathing!" Immediately Street ran out of the kitchen to where a group of 15 or 20 people were surrounding the victim, a waitress on her lunch break, who was now turning blue. No one knew how to help her. Street quickly utilized his CPR training to unblock the girl's airway. air-way. After several unsuccessful attempts, he finally dislodged the salad dressing which had been blocking the girl's airway. "I was grateful that I had the knowledge necessary to help save her life," Street recollects. The basics of CPR, according to Nuttal, are as easy as ABC. .A is for Airway -- is the victim unconscious? If so, shout for help, position the victim on his back, and open the airway by tilting back the head. B is for Breathing - check for breathing If there is no breathing, give two full breaths. C is for Circulation -- check the carotid pulse (by the adam's apple). ap-ple). Send someone to call the local emergency number (911 ). If there is no pulse, begin external chest compressions. 'Even very young children can learn the 911 emergency number and know when to use it," she emphasizes. "It is important to be trained to know the basic techniques," says Nuttal, "but the most important thing is to DO IT! Even if you can't remember the specific numbers or procedures, at least make the attempt at-tempt to save a life - broken ribs or bruises caused by incorrect procedures are minor compared to the loss of life." For more information about the "family night" CPR class, or about other group CPR training, contact the hospital or Scott MacKay at 756-8556. Airway, Breathing and Circulation make up the basics of CPR. |
