Cardiopulmonary resuscitation classes can save lives, and should be mandatory in public schools, as Michael Alison Chandler reported in The Washington Post. However, even if everyone who graduates from high school in the United States earns CPR certification, memories fade.
To put it into a different perspective: learning French in high school looks good on college applications, but without continual use, an individual’s knowledge of French evaporates. The same can be said when it comes to CPR.
A Lifetime Of Learning
It’s never too late to learn new things, and it certainly is commendable to relearn things. Therefore, it’s never too late to learn the lifesaving practice of CPR, and refreshers are certainly a boost over time.
Wisdom does not just happen. People develop it by continually educating themselves, and through the process of discovery. Thus, CPR procedures have evolved to become more efficient and effective, as ABCNews reported last year. Mouth-to-mouth is no longer considered as important as chest compressions, and the number of compressions has increased, Benjamin C. Klein wrote for the Star Gazette. CPR certification is good for two years.
Heart Disease
Heart disease is still the number one killer in the United States. Americans still eat eggs, meat and dairy. They still smoke and don’t get enough exercise. The American Heart Association’s diet recommendations are slowly moving people in the right direction.
Chances are many Americans will witness a heart attack or stroke in their lifetime. They’re not just for old people, nowadays. Studies show obesity can increase the chance of heart disease, and Americans are not getting any thinner, Chris Woolston of Health Day writes.
The World Health Organization reported 41 million children younger than five are obese. The epidemic affects all social classes, and the WHO says the marketing of unhealthy food and beverages is a major contributing factor.
Convenient Classes
The need to learn CPR is apparent today, but it will become more important in the coming years as more Americans become overweight. Virtual reality goggles probably won’t encourage users to get on a real treadmill as often as they should.
The good news is CPR classes in Sacramento, CA are easy to find thanks to educational resources like Professional CPR. In a CPR class, participants can learn CPR and how to operate an automated external defibrillator in 90 minutes. An AED can correct an irregular heartbeat during a cardiac arrest by administering an electric shock, according to Mayo Clinic staff. When used properly, the device can detect whether a shock is needed.