In the summer many of us enjoy going to the pool with family and friends or getting some yard work done. During the hot and humid southern Indiana days, we forget that there can be risks associated with enjoying the weather and outdoor activities. In light of this, I thought it would be beneficial to review the steps of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) according to the American Heart Association. Recently the American Heart Association released a new hands-only technique for CPR. They discovered that it is more important to keep the blood flowing and found there is enough oxygen in the blood to allow the person to survive for a short amount of time. If a person receives CPR it can double their chances of survival, and it is really very easy. There are two simple steps:
The American Heart Association says to push hard and fast on top of the person's heart to the beat of the popular Bee Gee's song 'Stayin' Alive'. Their slogan is "Disco saves lives". Humor aside, the more people that learn these steps will mean more lives saved in the future. With that in mind, the General Assembly passed legislation this year that requires anyone applying for or renewing their teaching license to be trained and certified in CPR, removing a foreign body causing an obstruction from an airway, the Heimlich maneuver, and the use of an automated external defibrillator. The law also states that the school nurse, who also knows these life-saving techniques and the teachers, may not be held liable for damages when they provide their assistance to the injured person. It is our hope that by requiring these techniques to be learned by teachers, who are often the first adult to arrive when our children are hurt at school, we can save the lives of many more Hoosier children, as well as others. If you would like to learn more about the American Heart Association's classes or other information you may visit: www.heart.org. I think it is always smart to take a quick minute to review simple things that could one day save a life. I hope that you and yours are enjoying these early summer days. -30- State Rep. Suzanne Crouch (R-Evansville) |
