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Tennessee Senate Passes Lifesaving Telecommunicator CPR Policy

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A lifesaving policy known as Telecommunicator CPR (T-CPR) passed recently from the Tennessee Senate, concurring with the House version, and is now heading to the Governor’s desk. Senate Bill 1958, sponsored by Sen. Rusty Crowe, R-Johnson City, passed with a unanimous vote. Its House companion, House Bill 1933, sponsored by Rep. Scott Cepicky, R- Culleoka, also passed unanimously Feb. 27. Without a single “no” vote during the entire legislative process, the policy is gaining attention and support in Tennessee by both state and local governments this year.

During cardiac arrest – the unexpected loss of heart function – only about 1 in 10 victims survive. Successful resuscitation of victims requires an immediate response to improve their chance of survival. Telecommunicators, including emergency dispatchers and 9-1-1 operators, can be lifesaving coaches when seconds matter.

The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, cheered T-CPR’s passage. Learn CPR online and help save lives.

“As a Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survivor, I know every second counts when it comes to saving a life,” said Carrie Romero, a member of the American Heart Association’s Tennessee State Advocacy Committee and an AED advocate from Thompson’s Station. “The passing of the T-CPR bill is a huge step toward ensuring that every heart in the state of Tennessee has a fighting chance of survival. I’m so grateful for the efforts of Rep. Cepicky and Sen. Crowe as they led the way to get this bill passed.”

“With an estimated 350,000 cardiac arrests happening every year, telecommunicators are the true first responders to every 9-1-1 call and a critical link in the chain of survival,” said Kelley Tune, executive director of the Middle Tennessee American Heart Association. “Being able to provide effective T-CPR can mean the difference between life or death. We’re grateful for the overwhelming support from Tennessee lawmakers prioritizing this lifesaving policy.”

For the full article, please view the source: https://rutherfordsource.com/tennessee-senate-passes-lifesaving-telecommunicator-cpr-policy/

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Local Cardiologist Pushing for Improved CPR Training

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A local cardiologist wants us all equipped to do our part if the time comes to save a life, and, according to her, prevention includes education.

“The majority of cardiac arrests happen in the home…and so this could mean saving your grandmother’s life, your sister’s life, your mother’s life,” UNR Med and Carson Tahoe Health Cardiologist Dr. Lorrel Toft explains.

CPR is a critical component of heart health. Dr. Toft has traveled the nation educating crowds about CPR training, which is usually practiced on male torsos, meaning women receive 30% less CPR help in public, as Dr. Toft details, “They’re scared of touching a woman, they’re scared of hurting a woman, they don’t know what to do when it comes time to remove clothing for the defibrillator and so this fear is really holding people back and preventing them from interacting with the woman who needs help.”

Dr. Toft reminds us that more than a million women die every year from heart disease. Factors we can control that play a role include knowing your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar numbers, adding, “So they’re making sure their kids are getting to the doctors, they’re making sure their partners are getting taken care of, but often, women stop seeing their doctors when they’re out of their child-bearing years. So they’re not getting screened for these very simple and very treatable things.”

The Northern Nevada chapter of the American Heart Association is focusing on small shifts” to make a big 2020 impact. From parking your car a little further, eating more vegetables to making sure everyone around you knows how and feels comfortable performing CPR on both men and women. When every precious second matters, the hope is you’ll be able to respond until emergency crews arrive.

Dr. Toft is planning to create more female friendly educational materials for CPR training, her email is LToft@unr.edu. Get CPR training online.

Copyright KOLO-TV 2020

News Source: https://www.kolotv.com/content/news/Local-Cardiologist-pushing-for-female-CPR-training-567962711.html

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Woman Reunited with Bystanders Who Performed Lifesaving CPR

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A woman who nearly died at a Metro station was reunited with the people who helped save her life during a ceremony hosted by D.C.’s fire department on Saturday.

Arielle Baker, 29, has heart problems and went into cardiac arrest at the Columbia Heights Metro stop in early January.

She was saved by two bystanders who knew how to perform CPR.

“I’m so thankful for everyone who took it seriously and gave me another chance at life,” Baker said during the ceremony. “Had these women not been there for me, I wouldn’t be here. I don’t take that lightly.”

One of the bystanders, Kimberly Herrmann, is a doctor at Whitman-Walker Health in the District.

Herrmann said saving Baker was a “big team effort.” You can learn CPR online.

“It was unbelievable,” said Herrmann. “It was like it was in slow motion.”

Others credited with saving Baker’s life include Metro Transit Police officers who shocked her with a defibrillator and a D.C. Fire and EMS crew that got her to the hospital.

“This is just a true testament to the goodwill of people,” Baker said.

In all, the fire department honored 15 people who helped Baker that day.

They received medallions known as “Cardiac Arrest Save Coins,” which D.C. Fire and EMS award to lifesavers who help return a pulse to a pulseless patient before that patient is taken to a hospital.

The case becomes coin eligible when the patient is discharged from the hospital in good health.

“This is a celebration of life,” said Battalion Fire Chief Brian Alston. “Everything that could be done was done in an effort to bring the patient back to life.”

At one point Baker became choked up and wiped away tears as she said she would “never forget” those who helped her.

“I’m only 29-years-old and I have so much more that I want to do and I’m so thankful for everyone who gave up some of their time in order to save my life.”

News Source: https://wtop.com/dc/2020/02/dc-woman-reunited-with-bystanders-who-performed-lifesaving-cpr/