CPR classes are available in different formats. The class can be targeted toward learning the technique of CPR and choking for adults, children, or infants – OR all three.
Participants are taught by certified American Heart Association (AHA) instructors and for a $5.00 charge can receive a two-year CPR card from AHA. At this time, there is no cost to residents of Iona-McGregor Fire District, except for the card charge. Books will be provided for use during the class and are available for a donation for personal use.
Monthly classes for the public in general are available every month on the 2nd Thursday. Those residents interested in participating are asked to contact Lauri McMahon at lmcmahon@ionafire.com at least one week prior to class to reserve a spot and ensure enough participants have signed up for a class. Within the week prior to class, last minute reservations can be made by contacting the Public Education Office at (239) 433-0660, extension 508.
First Aid Classes are scheduled as requested.
CPR Facts and Statistics
- About 75% to 80% of all sudden cardiac arrests happen at home, so being trained to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can mean the difference between life and death for a loved one.
- Effective bystander CPR, provided immediately after sudden cardiac arrest, can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival.
- CPR helps maintain vital blood flow to the heart and brain and increases the amount of time that an electric shock from a defibrillator can be effective.
- Approximately, 94% of sudden cardiac arrest victims die before reaching the hospital.
- On average, only 27.4 percent of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest victims receive bystander CPR.
- Death from sudden cardiac arrest is not inevitable. If more people knew CPR, more lives could be saved.
- Brain death starts to occur four to six minutes after someone experiences sudden cardiac arrest if NO CPR or defibrillation occurs during that time.
- If bystander CPR is not provided, a sudden cardiac arrest victim’s chances of survival fall 7 percent to 10 percent for every minute of delay until defibrillation. Few attempts at resuscitation are successful if CPR and defibrillation are not provided within minutes of collapse.
- Approximately 310,000 of all annual adult coronary heart disease deaths in the U.S. are due to sudden cardiac arrest, suffered outside the hospital setting and in hospital emergency departments. About 900 Americans die every day to sudden cardiac arrest.
- Sudden cardiac arrest is most often caused by an abnormal heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation (V Fib). Cardiac arrest can also occur after the onset of a heart attack or as a result of electrocution, drowning, or trauma to the chest.
- When sudden cardiac arrest occurs, the victim collapses, becomes unresponsive to gentle shaking, stops normal breathing and after two rescue breaths, still isn’t breathing normally, coughing or moving.