Fire House Facts & Continuous Chest Compression CPR
Date:
01/25/2012 (Last updated: 01/26/2012)Summary:
From Sunday January 15, 2012 through Saturday January 21, 2012 the Yuma Fire Department responded to 258 emergency calls for service.Contact:
The Yuma Fire Department responded to 258 emergency calls for service
- 6 Commercial Assignments
Including: An unpermitted fire in a yard that got out of control, an overheated light ballast in a business, and various false alarm - 22 Motor Vehicle Crashes
Including: 2 involving a pedestrian, 1 involving a bicycle, 1 involving three vehicles, 1 rollover, 1 involving a motorcycle, and 1 involving a pole - 209 Other Medical Emergencies (serious to minor)
Including: 5 for difficulty breathing, 9 for chest pain, 22 fall victims, 8 unconscious people, 3 seizure cases, 13 people with psychiatric problems, 1 possible stroke, 48 trauma injuries, 8 diabetic emergencies, 4 calls for children locked inside of vehicles, and other illnesses and injuries - 21 Special Duty, Public Assistance, and Residential Assignments
Including: A residential fire, children setting grass on fire, a fire in a stove at a residence, burned food in an apartment, a small diesel fuel leak in a parking lot, a commercial dumpster fire, an unauthorized fire at a residence, and various alarms
Continuous Chest Compression CPR
Last week the Yuma Fire Department responded to 3 calls for people who stopped breathing or were in cardiac arrest (98 last year!). According to the University of Arizona’s Sarver Heart Center, every year more than 160,000 people die of sudden cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest is a condition where the heart suddenly stops pumping blood. In many cases, the heart goes from a regular heartbeat to random twitching (called ventricular fibrillation). When something like this happens blood stops moving through the body. In this condition, quick action must be taken for the person to have a chance of survival. These recommended actions are often referred to as the “Chain of Survival” and are:
- Calling 911 (Getting the Paramedics on the way)
- Starting CPR
- Early Defibrillation (Using an Automated External Defibrillator-AED- if one is available)
- Early Arrival of Advanced Care (Paramedics)
Since 2009, the Yuma Fire Department has been providing instruction in the new “Continuous Chest Compression” CPR (that does not include mouth to mouth resuscitation), and has trained over 3,500 people! Studies have shown CCC-CPR is not only more likely to be used, but also is more effective than traditional CPR.
For More Information
If you have questions or need more information, please contact Mike Erfert or Kayla Holiman at 373-4850.
