Tagged with 'aeds'

Now’s the time for CPR and AED training.

Are you CPR and AED certified? If not, what are you waiting for? June 1-7 is National CPR and AED Awareness Week. It’s that special time of the year when we shine a light on how lives can be saved if more Americans know how to perform CPR and how to effectively use an AED. Celebrate by getting your CPR and AED certifications.

Did you know about 70% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in homes? If you are called on to give CPR in an emergency, you will most likely be trying to save the life of someone you love. Be the difference for your parent, partner, or child (American Heart Association).

Getting Your CPR and First Aid Certification is Easier than You Think

Excuse #1: I don’t want to take a CPR and AED class while Covid-19 is still around.

We understand; however, with cardiac arrest on the rise during the Covid-19 crisis, getting your AED and CPR certifications is more important than ever before. 

To help keep our trainers and students safe, Cardio Partners has implemented additional safety measures for all of our AED and CPR classes. Safe distancing techniques are being practiced during all in-person training sessions and skills tests. Disinfection protocols are in place for all teaching equipment between sessions.

Excuse #2: I don’t have the time to take a CPR class!

Actually, yes, you do have the time. The blended learning option combines in-person skills practice with safe, online learning. The lessons are quick, clear, and easy to follow. With focus and attention, passing the exam is a breeze. 

Excuse #3: I could never perform CPR. It looks too hard!

CPR with rescue breathing is easy to learn, and anyone can perform it. Hands-only CPR offers a safe way for bystanders to give someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) a fighting chance. 

Skilled CPR and AED trainers break the process down and demonstrate the procedure step-by-step. They take the mystery out of the process and offer gentle feedback to ensure that you’re doing everything right. Then, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to practice on life-like CPR manikins that provide real-time performance feedback. 

Excuse #4: CPR training is too expensive.

Costs may vary from provider to provider, but AED and CPR classes are priced to encourage participation. Check out the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, or your local YMCA for an affordable course near you. Or, to arrange CPR and AED certification classes for your workplace or organization, contact Cardio Partners. 

Many employers will cover the cost of training. If they’re unable to offer classes onsite, they may reimburse you. It can’t hurt to ask! 

The American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, and the National Safety Council worked together to designate a nationally recognized CPR and AED Awareness Week. On December 13, 2007, Congress unanimously passed a resolution to set aside June 1-7 each year as National CPR and AED Awareness Week. 

We’d like to join these advocates for heart health and safety by encouraging you to celebrate National CPR and AED Awareness Week in your community by getting AED and CPR certified.

Cardio Partners offers CPR, first aid, AED, and bloodborne pathogen training courses in all 50 states. We offer training in traditional classroom settings as well as blended learning courses. To learn more about our classes, call our team at 866-349-4362 or email Cardio Partners at customerservice@cardiopartners.com. 

DISCLAIMER: Information and resources found on the aed.com website and blog are intended to educate, inform, and motivate readers to make their health and wellness decisions after consulting with their healthcare provider. The authors are not healthcare providers. NO information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease or condition.

Benefits of purchasing a Stop the Bleed kit with your AED

In most cases, YES! Whether you’re buying your first AED, upgrading your existing AED, or adding additional AEDs to your public access program, it makes good sense to make sure your first aid kits and bleeding control kits are in rescue-ready shape. 

For those purchasing an AED for home use because your loved one has a history of heart attack or cardiac arrest, adding a bleeding control kit may not be necessary. 

However, if you live in a remote area and frequently work with heavy machinery or agricultural equipment, we’d certainly recommend adding a bleeding control kit to your Philips HeartSine Home AED package order!

While you’re at it, we also highly recommend offering first aid, AED, CPR, and Stop the Bleed training for individuals who are most likely to serve as point persons for your emergency response plan. 

Here are a few good reasons to purchase a Bleeding Control Kit with your new AED

• Traumatic hemorrhaging (blood loss) can lead to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
• Traumatic events can trigger SCA.
• A comprehensive AED, first aid, bleeding control program is easier to implement.
• It’s easier to track expiration dates.
• First aid kits can be used to treat minor injuries like scrapes, minor cuts, burns, and sprains, but they’re not designed to stop heavy bleeding.

• Stop the Bleed kits help control life-threatening bleeding caused by traumatic injuries.
• Most bleeding control kits will fit inside AED cabinets.

Finding the Right Bleeding Control Kit

There are three different types of bleeding control kits*: basic, intermediate, and advanced. Each vacuum-sealed and tamper-proof kit contains:

Basic Curaplex Bleeding Control Kit Contents:

• 1 Permanent marker
• 2 Pair of gloves, latex-free, LG
• 1 Tourniquet
• 1 Emergency bandage
• 1 Pair of trauma shears, 5.5"
• S-folded compressed gauze dressing

Intermediate Curaplex Bleeding Controls Kit:

• 1 Permanent marker
• 2 Pair of gloves, latex-free, LG
• 1 Tourniquet
• 1 Emergency bandage
• 1 Pair of trauma shears, 7.5"
• 2 Rolls of primed, compressed gauze dressing
• 1 Pack of H*VENT chest seals (2/pk)

Advanced Curaplex Bleeding Control Kit:

• 1 Permanent marker 
• 2 Pair of gloves, latex-free, LG
• 1 Tourniquet
• 1 QuikClot bleeding control dressing, Roll (3"x 4')
• 1 H*Vent vented chest seal, two-pack
• 1 Emergency bandage 4"
• 1 Pair of trauma shears, 5.5"
• 1 S-Folded primed, compressed gauze dressing

*Contents may vary depending on kit model

May is National Stop the Bleed Month. Anyone can learn to Stop the Bleed. Yes, you can! For more information on Curaplex bleeding control kits and to find the bleeding control kit that’s right for your organization, visit our website.

Have questions about AEDs, bleeding control kits, or first aid classes? Contact Cardio Partners at 866-349-4362 to learn more. We also welcome your emails, and you can reach us at customerservice@cardiopartners.com.

DISCLAIMER: Information and resources found on the aed.com website and blog are intended to educate, inform, and motivate readers to make their health and wellness decisions after consulting with their healthcare provider. The authors are not healthcare providers. NO information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease or condition.

Did you know that April is Stress Awareness Month? Sponsored by The Health Resource Network (HRN), a nonprofit health education organization, Stress Awareness Month is a national, cooperative effort to inform people about the dangers of stress, promote successful coping strategies, and dispel harmful misconceptions and misperceptions about stress.

High-Stress Levels Can Be Hard on Your Heart  

We’ve all felt our hearts race when an unexpected (and unexpectedly ugly) bill rears its nasty head or when the kids refuse to submit those online assignments on time. But did you know that high levels of stress drive up your risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems including high cholesterol, blood clots, and even cardiac arrest?

Stress doesn't just affect your sense of wellbeing and calm, stress can even affect you on a cellular level! Long-term stress and stress disorders can lead to a wide range of illnesses—from headaches to stomach issues to depression—and yes, even strokes and heart disease. Understanding the mind/stress/health connection can help you better manage stress and improve your health and well-being.

The American Heart Association notes that “More research is needed to determine how stress contributes to heart disease — the leading killer of Americans. But stress may affect behaviors and factors that increase heart disease risk: high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, smoking, physical inactivity, and overeating.” 

What is Stress?

Basically, it’s the fight or flight response that’s hardwired into our nervous system. It’s the response that keeps us safe and gets us moving quickly when there’s an immediate threat — like running from a charging dog, fire, or oncoming object.

“When you perceive a threat, stress hormones rush into your bloodstream—increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels. Other hormones also suppress functions like digestion and the immune system, which is one of the reasons why chronic stress can leave you more vulnerable to illness” (Federal Occupational Health).

Although danger is a common stress trigger, toxic work environments, uncertain finances, traumatic experiences, family stress, or anxiety can also lead to chronic stress. A bad day at the office or a one-off disagreement with a loved one won't damage your health in the long run, but chronic stress can dampen your immune response and put you at an increased risk for cardiovascular and other diseases.

What Can You Do To Manage Your Stress Levels?

Here are a few great ways to manage stress safely and effectively (they all just happen to be heart-healthy choices, too!):

• Exercise
• Meditate
• Do yoga with a friend
• Drink a cup of herbal tea
• Call a friend
• Go for a walk
• Snuggle with a pet
• Eat a piece of fruit
• Play an instrument

If your stress is pressurized like a firehose, ask for help. Look for a local or online stress management class or find a therapist who specializes in stress disorders. You don’t have to tackle this on your own!

Questions about AEDs, bleeding control kits, or first aid classes? Contact Cardio Partners at 866-349-4362 learn more. We also welcome your emails, and you can reach us at customerservice@cardiopartners.com.

DISCLAIMER: Information and resources found on the aed.com website and blog are intended to educate, inform, and motivate readers to make their health and wellness decisions after consulting with their healthcare provider. The authors are not healthcare providers. NO information on this site should be used to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease or condition.