Wisconsin CPR Certification Update: Forget your ABCs

In 2010, the American Heart Association (AHA) rearranged the acronym which had served as the 40-year foundation of emergency medical training. They literally rewrote the ABCs for first responders. The old method (Airway, Breathing, Compressions) was conducted as follows:

• A – Airway: ensure the victim’s airway is clear by tilting the head back
• B – Breath into the victim’s mouth while pinching their nose
• C – Compress the victim’s chest

The new method moves “Compressions” to the front of the sequence.

Why the Basics of Milwaukee CPR Training Suddenly Changed

The American Heart Association assembled a research panel of resuscitation experts from around the world . The panel evaluated the merits of the switch for 36 months before presenting findings at a 2010 conference.  Ultimately, the leading voices in CPR training determined “Compressions” were THE most important measure a first responder could take.

“Airway” and “Breathing” share a primary goal of adding oxygen to the respiratory and circulatory system, while “Compression” focuses on distributing the oxygen to the body’s vital organs, including the brain. The AHA study determined victims benefit far more from circulating existing oxygen than inputting new oxygen into the system. By skipping “Airway” and “Breathing” at the beginning of the cycle, first responders feed oxygen to the victim’s vital organs about 30 very-crucial seconds faster.

Milwaukee CPR Class Primer: Apply Compressions, Save Lives.

In noting the number of people who lack CPR certification, the American Heart Association outlined two simple measures people without CPR training could perform to increase a victim’s chance of survival.

• Call 911.
• Push hard and fast.

Again, a first responder with Milwaukee CPR training will be significantly more effective, but any response is better than no response. With this idea in mind, the AHA launched a celebrity-laden public service announcement campaign to drive home the two simple steps. The PSAs underscore another one of the 2010 conference’s findings: the frequency of chest compressions should be about 100 beats per minute. The PSAs demonstrate the proper speed by synchronizing the compressions to the beat of the song “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees. For more information, check out the “compression only” Milwaukee CPR training video.

The Importance of Milwaukee CPR Classes

The vast majority of heart attack emergencies happen at home, so the people closest to you are the most likely to benefit from your Wisconsin CPR training. By immediately drawing upon your CPR instruction, you effectively DOUBLE a cardiac arrest victim’s likelihood of survival. The first minute is BY FAR the most important. Utilizing our Milwaukee CPR classes to provide an informed response during a time of crises could save the life of your loved one.

For more information, see our Milwaukee CPR class availability calendar or call 414-282-4532 to set up Wisconsin CPR certification courses for groups and businesses.