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Why are CPR certifications important for you at home?

Posted by Joseph Ceccarelli on Mon, May 12, 2008
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There are many industries that are required and mandated to have CPR certifications and First Aid training to stay compliant with regulatory agencies like Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), Department of Public Health (DPH) and Massachusetts Early Education and Care (EEC). These regulations are in place to promote a safe work environment.

Who makes you as an individual get this training?

The answer is no one! In my opinion, everyone should get trained. About 75 to 80 percent of all out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home. This could mean the difference between life of death for a loved one.

Would you like the power to double the chance of survival of a loved one if they go into cardiac arrest?

You do have that power, if you provide CPR immediately you can double that chance that they will live. Approximately 95 percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims die on the way to the hospital. If no one does CPR immediately, the chance of survival is only 7-10 percent. WOW! Those aren't good odds.

Are you a new parent, grandparent or babysitter?

What if the child began to choke? Contrary to popular belief picking the child up by the leg and hitting them in the back is not the right procedure. In a CPR course you can learn how to manage any size and weight of a child when you need to help them if they are choking.

Do you have a pool, live on a lake or the ocean?

If someone was to drown and you pull them out of the water, the next step is to perform CPR, exchanging air for water until you clear the lungs,and finally do compressions until they show signs of life.

 Feeling helpless is one of the worst emotions to deal with. What if I did something different? What if I didn't do enough? What if I knew how to do CPR? What if I were trained in obstructed airway?

 Don't let yourself get into this position, find a training and sign yourself up.

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"Hands Only CPR" What does this all mean?

Posted by Joseph Ceccarelli on Fri, May 09, 2008
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The new concept of Hands Only CPR under the RIGHT circumstance can be just as effective as Traditional CPR, 2 breaths, 30 compressions, 5 cycles in 2 minutes.

In surveys taken, trained and untrained lay rescuers said they would be more apt to help someone if they did not have to do "mouth to mouth" on the victim. So, by doing fast and hard compressions you can help the victim and give them the same chance of survival as if you add rescue breaths.

This is only true under the RIGHT circumstances. The Hands Only CPR can only be effective if you witness the person go unresponsive from cardiac arrest. The key is you must witness it happen in order to use the Hands Only CPR.

CPR is to keep oxygenated blood pumping to the brain to keep it from dying. When your brain hits 4 minutes of no oxygenated blood going to it, it will begin to die. So, when you witness someone go unresponsive from cardiac arrest the body stores at least 4 minutes worth of oxygenated blood in their body. Some research has shown that the body may store even more oxygen in the blood, as much as 6 to 8 minutes worth.

 In conclusion,if you do fast and hard compressions you will give the victim the best change of survival. 

 Those numbers would work based on the national average that EMS response time is 8 minutes.That is why and how the Hands Only CPR can and will be effective. Please note response times will vary depending on your location. 

Hands Only CPR will NOT work under the following conditions:

 when you find someone who has gone unresponsive from cardiac arrest,

when you are already using an AED

 or If the victim is a child or an infant.

In summary, basically, if you witness or find someone who is unresponsive and not breathing they are dead. You can not make anyone worse off than dead, so, anything you do can only help. More people might be willing to help if they only did compressions and that is better than nothing.

For further information or if you have questions please feel free to contact us.

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Do I have to worry about OSHA? Has OSHA ever visited your business?

Posted by Pete Caputa on Sat, Mar 15, 2008
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You may be able to identify those four letters that spell OSHA, but do you know what they do? How does OSHA impact your business? As a small business owner you may not think you need to worry about OSHA but you do. If you employ one employee you need to worry about OSHA.

OSHA protects the employee and sets guidelines and expectations for the employer. Why will OSHA knock on your door? First, if an employee is injured on the job and seeks medical attention that report is automatically sent to OSHA from the hospital. Next, any current employee or former employee can call OSHA to file a complaint which could result in an investigation.

Are you ready to be investigated by OSHA? Have you done any safety training? Do you have an Emergency Action Plan? Do you have copies of all completed certifications and trainings? Has your CPR, first aid and AED certification card expired? OUCH!!! That is going to cost you!!! You better start checking. Fines from OSHA are in the thousands and now you will have follow up visits and if you don't fix the problem.... Well, let's say you are red flagged and now run the risk of jail time because you are intentionally ignoring the request by OSHA to make changes in your safety program.

To see a list of available OSHA courses click here.

I received a call from a general contractor who had another company do some work on a job site. Well, one of those workers was injured, the hospital sent the report to OSHA and OSHA showed up. The owner of the contracting business didn't even know the person was hurt or that the company is required to have OSHA training. This subcontractor fell off a 9 foot ladder working on a 10 foot deck. By OSHA standards the ladder is too short and where was his fall protection gear? Did they even do fall protection training? NO. His fine started at $10,000. Do you have an extra $10,000 to give to OSHA?

There is a golf course in Central Massachusetts who had OSHA show up because a former employee felt that he was at risk. Why? Because the golf course didn't have respiratory gear for him to wear while he was working in the sand bunkers and they did not supply suntan lotion while he worked in the sun. Can you believe that? Now OSHA knew it was a angry former employee, but they still came to investigate and still required changes to occur. However, they did not receive a fine.

Do you have a story to tell about a visit from OSHA? We would love to hear about it. Contact Us

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