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When a person stops breathing and EMS is still on the way, it’s sometimes up to everyday bystanders to step up and help. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a procedure that consists of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions and has saved countless lives. And with certification, anyone can learn how to use it. Getting CPR-certified at UCLA The CPR and First Aid Program at UCLA provides American Heart Association Heartsaver Certification courses most weekends of every quarter for student, staff, faculty, and the public. Heartsaver CPR consists of educational modules on Adult, Child, and Infant CPR and how to use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator). Heartsaver First Aid (FA) covers rudimentary emergency measures and what to do in cases such as external bleeding, splints, venomous bites, and hypothermia. Certified UCLA undergraduates serve as the instructors of these courses. “The program prepares its students for emergency situations in various contexts, be it an emergency room in a hospital, a lecture hall, or at home next to the fireplace,” said Alexander Dinh, co-program director of the committee.
The certification process UCLA undergraduates and community members can register for a Heartsaver CPR or First Aid class online at the committee’s website for a $5 registration fee for students and $10 for other members of the community. After enrolling, each student must complete the 3.5 hour course in either Heartsaver CPR or First Aid. During the course, there are two waves of evaluation for instructors to assess the technical competency of their students. At the conclusion of the course, each student walks away with their own certification card, which will authorize them to perform CPR or First Aid measures outside the classroom.
Why should people get certified in CPR? People who are CPR certified provide a valuable resource to their community. According to the American Heart Association, a victim’s chance of survival from cardiac arrest can double or triple if they are given immediate and effective bystander CPR. However, less than one third of out-ofhospital sudden cardiac arrest victims actually receive bystander CPR. The UCLA program gives students not only the chance to get certified, but also to become instructors themselves. As a certified student, one contributes to curbing the rising trend of preventable pre-hospital deaths by becoming a first contact between sudden cardiac arrest and the emergency response network.
The Paris Academy of Sciences officially recommends mouth-to-mouth resuscitation for drowning victims.
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Dr. George Crile reports the first successful use of external chest compressions in human resuscitation.
1957
While the basic science of CPR does not change greatly over the years, with new research minor enhancements to the procedure have been made. Every few years, the American Heart Association gathers a number of professionals (cardiologists, neurologists, EMTs, etc.) to evaluate new research and its implications for CPR. Here’s a look at CPR over the years:
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CPR over the years
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total wellness ▪ winter 2012
To get certified and learn more about CPR/FA visit: http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/uclacpr