Basic CPR Saves Lives

The fallen worker had suffered ventricular fibrillation, a serious and frequently fatal condition. Without immediate medical attention, ventricular fibrillation can lead to 

The victim, a laborer who occasionally works alone on hydrants, was lucky to be with other employees when his attack occurred. Today, he is feeling fine. And his coworkers received AWWA Heroism Awards for their quick, lifesaving efforts. 

The first action in a medical emergency is to call 911. Ideally, one person can attend to the victim while another calls 911. But if you are the only one around, it s critical that you call for emergency help before you begin CPR. The sooner the emergency response personnel arrive, the sooner they can administer the lifesaving equipment. 

Basic CPR can be learned in less than a day of training, and many businesses will either sponsor their staff to attend CPR classes or bring a professional in for the staff training. A person trained in CPR can assess if a victim needs to be treated with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions, and then appropriately conduct these procedures. 

New CPR guidelines were released in October 2010 by the American Heart Association (AHA). The revised protocol recommends that the three steps of cardiopulmonary resuscitation be rearranged. 

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