Study: Canadians Hesitant To Perform CPR

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Research conducted at St. Mike’s Rescue, the largest resuscitation research program in Canada, says that Canadians are squeamish about performing CPR on strangers – even without mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

New evidence suggests that mouth-to-mouth resuscitation doesn’t make enough of a difference to continue recommending it. New CPR guidelines introduced in 2010 say that untrained bystanders should focus on chest compressions instead and skip mouth-to-mouth.

This study also found that there are many misconceptions about CPR and cardiac arrest. Here are just some of the stats from the study:

  • Most of those surveyed couldn’t identify a cardiac arrest.
  • Only 41 per cent knew it means the heart has stopped beating.
  • Twenty-one per cent confused it with a heart attack (where the heart hasn’t stopped.)
  • Half believed 50 per cent or more individuals will survive a cardiac arrest outside hospital. The true rate is closer to eight per cent.

Here are the real facts:

  • Early CPR and defibrillation can increase the chance of survival by 75 per cent, or greater.
  • However, bystander-CPR rates have rarely exceeded 30 per cent in Canada.

These statistics are very worrying. This is why it is so important that all Canadians, even students, get proper CPR and AED education and training. The Mikey Network has a number of programs that provide education, training, and of course life-saving MIKEYS in as many high-risk, high-need locations as possible, including our Mikey Young At Heart App. Download it today.

You can read more about the study below:

http://news.nationalpost.com/health/0822-na-cpr?__lsa=8654-3726