Its essential for Bystanders to know CPR because Sudden Cardiac Arrest doesn't just occur in hospitals. It occurs on playgrounds, in grocery & shopping stores, malls, state fairs and at home- just to name a few places.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a crucial life-saving event for someone whose heart has stopped or is no longer breathing. Brain damage could occur within 4-6 minutes, reaching the beginning of brain death. Brain death is expected to occur after 10 minutes of the arrest, and there’s a slim chance of surviving.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Victims who receive CPR immediately with a defibrillator are twice as likely to survive, compared with other victims. The window of opportunity to save a life is 3 to 5 minutes.
Bystanders must act quickly by calling 911, starting CPR and using the nearest AED (automated external defibrillator)-before Emergency Medical Services arrive.
Outside of hospital over 350,000 people suffer Sudden Cardiac Arrest each year in the U.S.