Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in adults and often happens at people's homes. Knowing how to perform CPR, or cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, is an indispensible skill to save a person's life. CPR is a series of rescue breaths and chest compressions used to keep alive someone with trouble breathing or whose heart goes from a normal heartbeat to a quivering rhythm, until paramedics arrive at the scene. Compression acts to keep blood circulating throughout the body, while mouth-to-mouth provides oxygen to the lungs of the victim. Even though you are exhaling, your breath will still contain about 16 percent oxygen, according to the University of Washington School of Medicine. CPR, however, is not limited to help adult victims alone. While children rarely suffer from sudden cardiac arrest, those under 5 tend to put objects in their mouths, and this behavior can lead to choking. And even food, if inhaled instead of swallowed, can easily block a young child's trachea, or windpipe, which is just about the width of a drinking straw. In fact, choking is a leading cause of death in this age group. In this case, it is also of utmost importance to perform CPR as early as possible, because after just four minutes without oxygen, a child's brain can be permanently damaged. Most people think only healthcare providers need to know how to perform CPR and First Aid properly. Unfortunately, in most cases, there are no medical personnel present as the choking or cardiac arrest happens, and ambulances usually take long to arrive at the scene. Immediate CPR can double or triple the victim's chance of survival. The Saudi Heart Association has certified hospitals and private centers to teach anyone interested the basics of CPR and first aid. It takes around four hours to receive all the information, practice, and sit for the exam. Recertification takes place every three years. One such private center that offers CPR and first aid courses is Al-Bidayah Center in Jeddah. The co-owner of this breastfeeding resource and women's awareness center, Dr. Modia Batterjee, who holds a doctorate degree in health administration, saw the importance of performing CPR and first aid and decided to set up several courses that are certified by the Saudi Heart Association. “We originally decided to have the service for mothers and fathers, and families” to spread the knowledge among the population and not limit it to healthcare providers. Unfortunately, so far the concept did not gain popularity: “Mothers and fathers are not interested in” CPR and first aid training, according to the health administrator. As a result, Batterjee mainly trains nurses and doctors. “Rarely do we have parents. And that bothers me,” she says, as they are the ones who are going to be at the scene first if something happens, such as drowning, burns, cuts, or falls. “By the time the kid gets to the hospital, it's too late.” To illustrate the importance, Batterjee says: “If you're in a restaurant and someone is choking, you hope to help. If you are choking, you hope at least one person knows how to do the Heimlich maneuver. I'd like to increase that knowledge, but people think it's only for doctors and nurses.” Interested in learning CPR and first aid techniques? Visit the website of the Saudi Heart Association, at ksacpr.com.
