CPR instruction comes to RHHD!      

What do Aretha Franklin’s “Respect,” Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance,” and Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams” all have in common? Their tempos are all within the 100-120 beats per minute that help you keep track of CPR compressions!

These songs were all on the playlist greeting RHHD employees as they attended the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Basic Life Support training in February. Participants learned how to administer CPR for adults, children, and infants under the guidance of newly certified in-house instructors. Congratulations to RHHD employees Shannon Campbell, Dylan Knight, Charles Lee, Stephanie Mbengue, and Ed Porner on becoming accredited instructors.

According to the AHA, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests happen outside of hospital settings in the United States each year. That means that for most of these 350,000 cardiac arrests, a trained medical provider won’t be the first responder. In 2023, only 40% of people who suffered cardiac arrests received bystander CPR before emergency medical services arrived—but CPR can double or even triple the chance of survival.

Shannon says, “the more people who know how to do CPR, the more we’re able to help!” Check out a few fascinating tidbits from the training and look for a class near you

  • Babies are cute when they’re chunky, but all that cuteness makes it more difficult to locate a pulse on their necks or wrists. The best spot to check for one is on the brachial artery, on the inner side of an infant’s bicep.

  • CPR is designed to keep a victim’s blood and oxygen circulating while waiting on emergency services. It’s a great idea to know where the Automated External Defibrillator (or AED) is located in your workplace or school.

  • CPR can save a victim’s life, but the rescuer’s life matters, too. The first step of emergency response is always checking the scene to make sure you can intervene safely.