Make Every Second Count – Attend FREE Hands-Only CPR & Stop the Bleed Training

So what do you do in the event of a life threatening emergency? First and foremost, always call 911, but after that do you know what to do? The first care someone gets requires no special skills and can potentially be the difference between life and death. Are you ready to make a difference? 

At Quinsigamond Community College, the senior nursing students in the Advanced Placement Nurse Education Program have been offering free demonstrations of basic, life-saving techniques in CPR and life-threatening bleeding following an emergency during the months of September and October. The college is asking everyone in the QCC community to take a few minutes of their day to make a difference by learning these valuable skills. Learning these skills could make YOU the difference in an emergency

Today, the leading cause of death is sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and with nearly 400,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests occurring annually in the United States, survival depends on getting immediate Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Trauma is also an epidemic in the U.S. A person can bleed to death in less than five minutes, which makes it difficult for emergency medical responders to arrive fast enough to control bleeding and save lives. Did you know that in a cardiac arrest, every second counts and a person who is bleeding can die from blood loss within five minutes?

The nursing students will be teaching Hands-Only CPR, which is CPR without mouth-to-mouth breaths. It is recommended for use by people who see a teen or adult suddenly collapse in an “out-of-hospital” setting. According to the American Heart Association, 89 percent of people who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest die because they don’t receive immediate CPR from someone on the scene.

Incidents where victims have had a cardiac arrest or bled out and died before first-responders got to them are becoming more frequent. In an emergency situation, no matter how quick the arrival of emergency professionals, bystanders will always be the first on the scene. The only thing more tragic than a death, is a death that could have been prevented.

“We are pleased to support the American Heart Association, the American College of Surgeons, the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security’s important missions to raise awareness of basic actions to increase survival from cardiac arrest and life threatening bleeding following everyday emergencies,” said Susan Johnson, Professor of Nurse Education ADN Program. “Our goal is to train as many members as possible within our community to learn these lifesaving steps to make a difference in a life-threatening emergency and save lives. “

Make this the year that you plan to make a difference in someone’s life and if you haven’t already learned these life-saving techniques, stop by the Quad & Administration Building (at the revolving doors) on QCC’s main campus or at the Athletic Center (Upper Exercise Area) on Monday, October 15 from 3:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., from 3:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m. and learn how you can make a difference.