Each year an estimated 350,000 sudden cardiac arrest events occur in the U.S. in an out-of-hospital environment. Almost all of these events result in a call for help to 911. Without quick intervention in the form of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation, death from sudden cardiac arrest is almost certain.
Dispatchers are the true first responders and a critical link in the cardiac arrest chain of survival—a dispatcher can make the difference between life and death. It is the dispatcher, in partnership with the caller, who has the opportunity to identify a patient in cardiac arrest, provide the initial level of care by delivering telephone CPR instructions to the caller, and quickly send the appropriate level of help.
Receiving calm, clear instructions from a dispatcher in a frantic moment can be enough to save a life. For example, at two weeks post-partum from the birth of her first child, Lindsey saved her mom’s life using CPR when she came for a visit and suddenly experienced a cardiac emergency. The American Heart Association will honor Lindsey Bomgren and Mary Smith at the 15th annual Twin Cities Go Red for Women Luncheon on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. To register, visit: www.heart.org/twincitiesgoredevents.
MARY SMITH AND LINDSEY bomgren, MOTHER/DAUGHTER DUO, WILL SHARE THEIR STORY AT THE TWIN CITIES GO RED FOR WOMEN LUNCHEON ON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019.
“Minnesota is one of the 48 states that doesn’t have consistent telephone CPR protocols in place for 911 dispatchers,” says Lorna Schmidt, advocacy director for the American Heart Association in Minnesota. “That’s why the American Heart Association is working together with many excellent local and statewide partners and stakeholders to craft a telephone CPR training and transfer system to make saving lives easier.”
The American Heart Association plans to help reintroduce legislation this year in the Minnesota legislature to address this gap. To learn more and help pass Minnesota’s Telephone CPR bill, join You’re The Cure today.
For another opportunity to learn hands-only CPR and raise awareness about heart disease in women, join us on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at the Go Red Health Expo at the Mall of America. The event will feature a student-designed fashion show, a dog fashion show, CPR training, dancing, singing, and more family-friendly fun at this free health expo.
For more local American Heart Association events and opportunities to get involved, visit www.heart.org/twincities.
