First Class CPR

Did you know that the earliest warning of a heart attack is, in most cases, recurring chest pain (also known as angina), though not every victim experiences this? This is caused by a temporary decrease in blood flow to the heart.

In the 18th century, a group of wealthy citizens in Amsterdam became alarmed about sudden deaths and how to possibly avoid them. In 1767, they created the group called the “Society for Recovery of Drowned Persons” and came up with rules to follow to help a drowning person.

In the ABCs of CPR, “C” stands for circulation. This step begins by checking for a carotid pulse (neck), by feeling for 5 to 10 seconds at a time. If there is a pulse but the victim is not breathing, then give rescue breathing at a rate of 1 breath every 5 seconds or 12 breaths per minute.