BEXLEY, Ohio — October marks National Sudden Cardiac Awareness Month.
According to the American Red Cross, Sudden Cardiac Arrest is a leading cause of death across the nation, claiming the lives of more than 350,000 people a year.
What You Need To Know
- Bexley launched a program to train people in the community CPR and how to operate an AED
- If enough people are trained, the city may become a HEARTSafe community
- More than three dozen Ohio communities have earned the HEARTSafe designation
An Ohio city has seen those numbers and is taking action.
“I came out here to save lives and help out my community,” said Hayden Saad.
Saad is taking part in a hands-on training. It teaches people in the community CPR and how to operate an AED.
The city of Bexley launched the training to become a HEARTSafe community. If enough people are trained in CPR, the city may earn that recognition.
Bexley Police Detective Darren Briley leads the training. He said becoming a HEARTSafe community should also save lives.
“Having enough people to know what they’re doing in that instance is just raising the rate of survival for anybody who is in a cardiac arrest,” said Briley.
According to the American Heart Association, of the roughly 350,000 cases of cardiac arrest each year, 70% happen at home.
“The chances of someone needing CPR around you is pretty high,” said Briley.
The training also includes information on how to operate AEDs, which are found in a growing number of public places. They can be a critical go-to device to help restore a regular heartbeat during cardiac arrest.
By the end of this training, people should be more prepared than ever.
“I think it’s pretty interesting learning new things,” said Saad. “Saving lives is a pretty big deal. I think if people learn that now and then in the future, it will be a breeze when the situation comes.”
The new program is called HEARTSafe Bexley. More than three dozen Ohio communities have earned the HEARTSafe designation.
To find out more about this program, click here.