Approximately 50 people from the community came to Middle School 7 on May 19 to sit on the floor and pound on the chests of small tan dummies. Parents of children at the school and other interested persons had come to get trained in basic cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by experts from Jersey City Medical Center’s emergency medical service unit (EMS).
Paid for with a grant from the American Heart Association, the goal was to teach this life-saving procedure as part of its Family and Friends program.
While this class was part of EMS Week activities, JCMC offers a weekly class at its Montgomery Street facility, and will likely expand to other locations throughout the city in the near future.
“We plan to do more in the next few months,” said Steven A. Cohen, assistant director for EMS.
Jersey City Medical Center EMS donated to each student a Family and Friends CPR Anytime Kit, which included Mini Anne CPR learning Manikin, CPR-skill practice DVD, Adult and AED reminder card, Choking Child CPR reminder card, Mini Anne spare lungs, and Manikin wipes.
“Every minute delayed decreases the person’s chances of recovery by 10 percent.” – Robert Luckritz, director of EMS and Government Relations.
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During any cardiac arrest, CPR can prevent serious heart and brain damage until a defibrillator can restart their heartbeat. Oxygen remains in the blood for up to five minutes even when the heart is not pumping. By pushing hard and fast on the appropriate part of the chest, a person applying CPR can continue blood flow and oxygen to the brain and heart. The application also provides a clicker to which a person can time his or her pushes.
Time is crucial
“Every minute delayed decreases the person’s chances of recovery by 10 percent,” said Robert Luckritz, director of EMS and Government Relations. “While we have a great response time when we get a call, this will increase a person’s chances and have someone there performing life-saving CPR until we arrive.”
Oddly enough, the best rhythm for CPR, instructors said, comes from the song, “Staying Alive,” by the Bee Gees.
Residents who respond to an event such as this are encouraged also to call 9-11 and to use the defibrillator as soon as it is available. But instructors at the CPR class said pushing on the chest hard and regularly is considered the best thing for a patient.
Paramedics and EMS people who respond to the 911 call may provide more extensive treatment, but simply knowing how to press on the chest can mean the difference between life and death.
Although JCMC EMS has one of the best response rates in the nation, arriving usually in under six minutes, by training civilians in CPR someone suffering from a heart attack can get treatment almost immediately.
“When used in conjunction with a new phone app, Pulse Point, you can have someone on the spot right away,” said Luckritz.
Pulse Point alerts CPR-trained people who are in the area that someone is having a heart attack.
Strangers could be life-savers
Cohen said offering this training to the general public puts more people on the street that can aid someone at a critical time.
The training includes learning about the use of an AED defibrillator and allows treatment to start until the EMS professionals can arrive.
“When someone calls 911, our dispatchers can walk them through the CPR procedure,” Cohen said. “If they are already trained, then they get their knowledge reinforced.”
Cohen said this CPR procedure is a change in philosophy from the past, when mouth to mouth was recommended.
“People were uncomfortable doing mouth to mouth,” he said. “But research later showed that chest compression is more effective.
People who are interested in getting training can call (201)547-6123.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.
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Freeholders honor JCMC EMS professionals
On Thursday, May 14, the Hudson County Board of Freeholders unanimously honored EMS professionals throughout Hudson County by passing a resolution and issuing a proclamation. The proclamation recognized National EMS Week in Hudson County which began on May 17.
“It is important to recognize the hardworking all emergency medical responders including EMT’s; paramedics and dispatch professionals that are so critical to keeping Hudson County safe,” Freeholder Chairman E. Junior Maldonado said. “We were happy to honor them, and look forward to a great EMS Week.”
“EMS Week is an annual opportunity to recognize the incredible contributions that EMS professionals make to their communities each and every day,” said Robert Luckritz, director of Emergency Medical Services at Jersey City Medical Center, a Barnabas Health Facility. “Jersey City Medical Center is proud of our work as Hudson County’s Advanced Life Services provider, and we look forward to many more years of working with the county and the freeholders to keep Hudson County safe.”
The Jersey City Medical Center, EMS Department provides basic life support to the City of Jersey City, advanced life support to greater Hudson County and 9-1-1 communications in greater Hudson County.