By Kathryn Dean

March is Red Cross Month and the American Red Cross wants to encourage everyone to learn the important skills of CPR, first aid and AED usage.

Sudden cardiac arrest can happen anywhere. According to the American Heart Association, more than 357,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of the hospital setting each year in the United States, and nearly 90% of those arrests are fatal.

Despite this, survival rates can double or triple for victims of cardiac arrest if CPR is started immediately. That’s why training is vitally important so that prompt medical attention can be given before emergency responders arrive.

What should you do if you see a person suddenly collapse? Assess the scene for safety and check the victim’s pulse and breathing. Call 911. Start CPR. Use an AED.

How do you check a pulse? The easiest way is to place your fingers on the victim’s throat and slide your fingers laterally down into the groove on either side of the esophagus. The wrist can also be used; the pulse is located just below the thumb joint, also in the groove.

CPR, or cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, is the application of chest compressions to keep blood pumping through the body. The Hands-Only CPR method is recommended for bystanders in public settings, meaning the focus is solely on delivering chest compressions, without breaths, until emergency responders arrive.

AED stands for automated external defibrillator. It is an important, lifesaving tool used in sudden cardiac arrest when the heart stops beating or is beating ineffectively. The machine is easy to use and talks you through the steps to deliver effective medical care until help arrives. Anyone can learn to use an AED.

More and more communities are placing AEDs in public areas, such as parks, town centers, grocery stores and workplaces, so lifesaving measures can be started even earlier. The next time you are out and about, note the locations of AED machines in your community. This knowledge may help save someone’s life one day.

Did you know that the Red Cross offers training in CPR, first aid and AED? While CPR and AED training is common among health care workers, child care workers and lifeguards, it is a skill that anyone can and should learn. Be prepared for any situation by visiting https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class and signing up to take an online or in-person class.

Edited by Glenda Bogar, Red Cross volunteer

Posted by Ryan Lang, Red Cross board member and volunteer