What Are Some CPR Statistics and Facts?

In America alone, sudden cardiac arrest results in the death of more than 900 adults. Out of 550000 people who have coronary heart disease, 335000 die each year due to complications from the condition or lack of proper treatment/earlier detection and treatment.

According to CPR statistics by the America Heart Association, 95% of people who experience sudden cardiac arrest die before arriving at a health facility. Among all these victims, we only have 6% surviving.

However, it is possible to increase the CPR survival rates of patients by receiving CPR trained and guidance on how to handle people with SCA.

More than 80% of the cases of cardiac arrest happen at home or in a private setting. Therefore, gaining training and information on the general procedures on how to carry out CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) will help increase the chances of survival for the victim, and save lives.

CPR was invented in 1960 and is based on methods like as mouth-to-mouth respiration and compression of the chest.

CPR triggers the flow of oxygenated blood to critical organs when applied to a victim of cardiac arrest.

You can save a life by carrying out CPR until medical personnel reaches the scene for defibrillation or any other advanced treatments related to this condition.

Scenarios Where CPR Can Be of Help

Accidents are unforeseeable and may happen at home, work, or any setting. Some of these accidents can lead to circumstances that may require CPR help to revive the victim. Let’s find out at a few:

  • Electric shock
  • heart attack/cardiac arrest
  • drowning
  • drug overdose
  • suffocation
  • severe allergy

The American Heart Association is responsible for providing education and training on CPR related topics and scenarios to ensure that people are ready to curb the threats of heart attacks or any other accidents that need CPR to save a life.

17 Facts and Statistics about CPR.

  1. A heart attack happens when heart muscles fail to receive sufficient blood supply due to blockage. A heart attack will likely lead to a cardiac arrest.
  2. 95% of unexpected cardiac arrest victims succumb to the condition before arriving at a health facility.
  3. Through training and educating citizens on CPR procedure and identifying a cardiac arrest attack, a lot of lives can be saved since there is usually a chance of survival for the victims.
  4. Instant CPR on a victim by a passerby will significantly leverage the chances of survival for a sudden cardiac arrest victim.
  5. Per the American Heart Association, in adults above 45 years of age, 1 in 8 women and 1 in 6 men have suffered a heart attack or stroke.
  6. Research indicates that 45 % of heart attacks happen to people under the age of 65years.
  7. A lot of victims usually look healthy, with no history of heart-related diseases.
  8. A heart attack is different from a sudden cardiac arrest
  9. In 5 cases of cardiac arrest, four are reported to have happened at home.
  10. The American Heart Association provides training and education to Americans with the number of trainees exceeding 12 million annually.
  11. African-Americans are prone to heart attacks.
  12. CPR helps in keeping the flow of blood to vital organs steady. Plus, by executing CPR, we create more time for electric shock using the defibrillator, thus increasing the chances of the process working.
  13. In 5-6 minutes of cardiac arrest when no CPR, nor defibrillation is performed, the cardiac arrest victim experiences brain death.
  14. The application of CPR is not limited to helping revive cardiac arrest victims, but also it can be used on various children and adults who have experienced disabling injuries.
  15. If CPR could be performed on time, 100000 – 200000 lives of children, as well as adults, could be saved.
  16. When a passerby fails to perform CPR or has no knowledge of the procedure, the chances of the cardiac arrest victim for survival decrease every minute by 7%.
  17. Every 34 seconds in the US, a person dies due to multiple accidents and cardiac arrests.

Critical facts on Choking

Research by AHA indicates that above 90% of deaths caused by foreign objects happen to children under the age of 5 years, with 65 % of them being infants.

The most common cause of choking mostly in infants is liquids

  • Candies contribute to 19% of the cases of choking, and hard candies cause 65% of the cases
  • In 2000, 160 children 14 years of age succumbed to respiratory tract blockage caused by inhaling or ingesting foreign substances.
  • In 2001, the cases of children treated for choking emergency were well within 11%.

The Timeline of CPR

A victim suffering a heart attack or a cardiac arrest should receive immediate help since the countdown to brain damage usually starts when the attack happens. The following is the timeline of the stages of a victim of cardiac arrest.

  • 0-4 minutes – here, the likelihood of brain damage happening is minimal; therefore, a CPR could help restore the victim to full health.
  • 4-6 minutes – There is a probability that brain damage can occur at this stage.
  • 6-10 minutes- high likelihood of brain damage occurring
  • Over 10 minutes – brain death is imminent.

You Should get Educated and trained on CPR

Cardiac arrest cases are usually medical emergencies and can happen anytime, and in any setting.

Often, individuals who experience cardiac arrests usually appear healthy therefore making these attacks unpredictable.

Moreover, there is a difference in cardiac arrests and heart attacks. For instance, SCA is not caused by a heart condition.

Severe injuries and electrical impulses can cause it. It is therefore essential to get the training needed to save a life. You might find yourself on the frontline of help for a cardiac arrest victim in the future.

Conclusion

A report by AHA indicates that CPR saves above 92000 people in the US annually. Research also suggests that the knowledge gained during the training of CPR deteriorates in 3 months, not only among ordinary people but also among medical professionals, including doctors and nurses.

You should, therefore, seek retraining programs for CPR or take a recertification course or exam to help sharpen your life-saving skills.