Compression-Only Resuscitation Technique Demonstrated to 116
The College of Southern Marylands American Heart Association Training Center partnered with American Medical Response (AMR) for the World CPR Challenge May 22 at CSMs La Plata Campus. CSM Continuing Education and Workforce Development Healthcare Director Kelly Winters, training center staff Linda Goodman, William Rush, Darlene Rush and John Gosford along with 16 CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) coaches manned a dozen manikin stations during the eight-hour World CPR Challenge event. Statistics show that survival rate increases by 48 percent when compressions are started immediately after a sudden cardiac arrest. Thus, by training the lay public to perform compressions we can theoretically increase the overall survival rate of our community, said Winters. During the event, CPR Coaches Tai Khandaker, left, and Jordan Fridenmaker, second from left, demonstrated compression-only or bystander CPR, telling participants, Shytise Hancock, right, and Gregory Stamp, second from right, that in a lifesaving emergency bystanders should remember the phrase Call 9-1-1; push hard and fast. More than 100 people participated in hands-on training on CPR manikins as well as on the use of AEDs (automated external defibrillators). Sponsors for the event included Southern Maryland Blue Crabs and Chick-fil-A, Giant, Safeway and Target of La Plata.