VIDEO: CPR can save lives, and as important as it is, not everyone is certified or knows how to do it. However, first responders say that shouldn’t stop you from stepping in as they often rely on bystanders to fill that gap until they arrive. According to the American Red Cross, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests happen outside of the hospital in the United States.
“For us, our goal is to always within 90 seconds to get hands to chest,” Matthew Harwell, emergency communications operations manager at the Lincoln Emergency Communications Center, said. When you call 911 dispatchers for help, they can also walk you through the steps needed to perform CPR.
Depending on where you are when the attack happens, you might have access to an automated external defibrillator (AED), which can deliver an electric shock through the chest to the heart.
“We’ve had several cases where there have been arrests in gyms or grocery stores, coworkers recognized the need for help, went and retrieved the AED and delivered the shock and provided life saving care before our arrival,” Aaron Pospisal, Lincoln Fire and Rescue battalion chief, said. According to Pospisal, registering the AED will help the equipment show up on the Pulse Point app.
