The Heart
An essential organ, the heart, sits in the left side of the chest cavity and is about the size of a fist. As the main part of the circulatory system, it pumps blood and oxygen to the rest of the body. At an average rate of 72 beats per minute and an average lifespan of 75 years, the human heart beats about 2,838,240,000 times in a lifetime (“Home: Where The Heart Is.” The Franklin Institute, n.d Web 4 Jan. 2015). There are four heart chambers along with four valves that help pump the blood to the organs and muscles of the body. Blood enters the heart through the Vena Cava (a blood vessel). From the right atria, blood travels through the tricuspid valve, the right ventricle and through the pulmonary valve and artery to the lungs. In the lungs, oxygen molecules attach to red blood cells and travel back to the heart through pulmonary veins. Once back in the heart, the blood cells flow from the left atria through the bicuspid (mitral) valve into the left ventricle, the aortic valve and pumped throughout the whole body by way of the aorta (Mahar, Ann Marie “Circulation” Rutland High School, Rutland, Vermont. Sept. 2013 n.p.). In order to pump the blood to the rest of the human body, the left ventricle is lined with very strong, thick endocardium. This entire process is carried out with every heartbeat.
Heart Disease
Yes, it is a disease found in the heart, but it is the leading cause of death in the United States with a death count of 596,577 in 2010 (“Leading Causes of Death.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 14 July 2014 Web. 4 Jan. 2015). Cancer had a total of 576,691 deaths. There are many different types of heart disease. A few ubiquitous ones include:
Heart Health
As such an important organ, it is important to keep your heart healthy to prevent the development of a heart disease. One of the most important aspects of heart health is a healthy diet. “You may be eating plenty of food, but your body may not be getting the nutrients it needs to be healthy. Nutrient-rich foods have vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients but are lower in calories. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables may help you control your weight, cholesterol and your blood pressure” (“Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations.” American Heart Association, Inc. Feb. 2014 Web 6 Jan. 2015). Eating foods with lots of fat can clog arteries and veins with a substance called plaque that causes the heart to work harder to pump blood and can lead to heart attack and stroke. This fat and bad cholesterol is what causes obesity therefore leading to heart problems. In addition to diet, exercise is very important to heart health. Adults need at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week (“The Basics.” National Health Information Center, 25 Nov. 2014 Web. 7 Jan 2015). Another improvement one could make is to quit smoking. Smoking decreases good cholesterol, your tolerance for physical activity and increases the tendency for blood to clot. Smoking is also an important risk factor for stroke. Inhaling cigarette smoke produces several effects that damage the cerebrovascular system (“Why Quit Smoking?” American Heart Association, Inc. 29 Dec. 2014 Web 7 Jan. 2015).
Heart Attacks & Cardiac Arrest
Unlike many may think, a heart attack isn't the same thing as going into cardiac arrest. A heart attack is a “circulation” problem and sudden cardiac arrest is an “electrical” problem (“Heart Attack or Sudden Cardiac Arrest: How Are They Different?” American Heart Association, Inc. 30 July 2014 Web 8 Jan. 2015). A heart attack occurs when there is an infarction in an artery restricting blood flow to the heart while cardiac arrest occurs when the heart’s rhythm is disrupted and stops beating unexpectedly. Although these conditions are not the same, they are linked. Sudden cardiac arrest can occur after a heart attack, or during recovery, but most heart attacks do not lead to sudden cardiac arrest (“Heart Attack or Sudden Cardiac Arrest: How Are They Different?” American Heart Association, Inc. 30 July 2014 Web 8 Jan. 2015). Cardiac arrests are sudden and often show no prior symptoms where heart attacks may show warning signs. Some signs include uncomfortable pressure in the chest, discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach, shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea, and or light-headedness (Joseph P. Ornato, MD; Mary M. Hand, MSPH, RN “Warning Signs of Cardiac Arrest.” American Heart Association, Inc. Web 8 Jan. 2015).
Who can have a Heart Attack?
The answer is anyone, but there are certain factors that can increase your risk of a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest. These factors include but are not limited to family history of early heart disease (father or brother diagnosed before age 55 or mother or sister diagnosed before age 65), diabetes mellitus, age (over 45 years of age), high blood cholesterol, hypertension (high blood pressure), cigarette smoking, obesity, or physical inactivity (Joseph P. Ornato, MD; Mary M. Hand, MSPH, RN “Warning Signs of a Heart Attack.” American Heart Association, Inc. Web 19 Jan. 2015). While some patients have no symptoms, other experience signs that will alert them that something is wrong. Many who have suffered from a heart attack report pain in the left arm or the left side of the body, but there are other signs as well. Similarly to cardiac arrest, signs include uncomfortable pressure in the chest, discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach, shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea, and or light-headedness (“Warning Signs of a Heart Attack.” American Heart Association, Inc. 6 Aug. 2014 Web 19 Jan. 2015). If you or anyone you know experiences these symptoms, you should call 911 immediately.
What is CPR? Who needs it?
CPR is an abbreviation for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This procedure is used when it appears that the heart has stopped beating. Someone who has gone into sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) or is near drowning needs CPR in hopes of survival. This lifesaving process includes a series of breaths and compressions. The first and most important part of CPR is calling 911. Although CPR can be affective, it is better to have the the medical professionals at your location as fast as possible. According to the newly developed CPR guidelines, an adult in need of CPR should get 30 compressions to two breaths, with the speed at least 100 hard compressions in the center of the chest per minute. For infants (ages one and under), the ratio should be 15 compressions to two breaths with the same speed. If an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) is present, it should be used along with CPR. This machine requires one to place sticky pads on the victim’s chest, and will give specific directs to the user as the process is carries out. In 2008, the AHA released a statement about Hands-Only™ CPR. This new system allows people who are sick or feel uncomfortable using their mouth to perform CPR without the use of breaths. “Hands-Only CPR is an easy-to-remember and effective option for people who have been trained in CPR before but are afraid to help because they are not confident that they can remember and perform the steps of conventional CPR (“Hands-Only CPR: Learn More” American Heart Association, Inc. Web 19 Jan. 2015). Whether it is regular CPR, CPR with an AED, or Hands-Only™ CPR, anything is better than nothing.
CPR Importance in Schools
There has been a huge push in the United States to require some form of formal CPR training in schools. The American Heart Association believes that when ordinary people, not just doctors and EMTs, are equipped with the skills to perform CPR, the survival rate can double, or even triple. In Vermont, Act 151, as of 2012 created a law for both public and independent schools. The law states that “students must demonstrate proficiency in health education as part of the revised Education Quality Standards. Comprehensive health education is considered part of the minimum course of study for Vermont schools, however students do not need to earn a CPR or AED certification (“Guidance for Implementation of Vermont Act 151 (2012)” Vermont Agency Education Oct. 2014 Web. 20 Jan, 2015). This is a large step in the right direction. As part of a nationwide health advancement, many other states have put similar laws in place. Organizations like the American Heart Association have set up websites to promote these laws. Their specific motto is “Be CPR Smart.” The website has a milestone goal on the homepage that has a goal of 1,000,000 graduates with fulfillment of CPR training every year. As this site was set up by a national organization, there are many other people out there trying to make a difference in their own state and community. There is even a blog at schoolscpr.com that shows a map of the United States where the progress for each state is shown. There are links to each law, and viewers can even learn how to bring CPR into the curriculum at their own school. With nearly half the states across the country requiring CPR training in schools, the next step could be a national law.
Steps for Teachers
Depending on the State, there is different criteria for a teacher to qualify to teach CPR. In Vermont, teachers do not need to hold a CPR or AED instructor certification in order to teach this content. However, in Vermont a physical education endorsement and health education endorsement requires that one must hold current certificates in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid (“Guidance for Implementation of Vermont Act 151 (2012)” Vermont Agency Education Oct. 2014 Web. 20 Jan, 2015). In this case, teachers do not need to be certified instructors. A teacher who wants to actually certify students needs to find the closest local training center and become an AHA instructor. The final step to this process is to be assessed on your first student training session, so the training instructor can verify that you’re qualified for the job.Once you become an Instructor, you will have access to the most current emergency cardiovascular care science, course updates, training resources and tools through the online AHA Instructor Network. You will also be able to post class dates and times to reach more students through our public website (“How to Become and AHA Instructor” American Heart Association, Inc. 2 Sep. 2014 Web 21 Jan. 2015). Teachers without these qualifications can use videos from the AHA website to use as instruction. This association feels so strongly about CPR education that they open up their resources to help equip any teacher that is working to put a training program in place.
WHY DO WE CARE?
Each year, approximately 300,000 persons in the United States experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA); approximately 92% of persons who experience an OHCA event die ( Amy L. Valderrama, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 29 July 2011 Web. 21 Jan. 2015). The majority of persons who experience an OHCA event do not receive bystander-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation or other timely interventions that are known to improve the likelihood of survival to hospital discharge. Approximately 36.7% of OHCA events were witnessed by a bystander. Only 33.3% of all patients received bystander CPR, and only 3.7% were treated by bystanders with an automated external defibrillator (AED) before the arrival of EMS providers (Amy L. Valderrama, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 29 July 2011 Web. 23 Jan. 2015). These low statistics can dramatically increase if common people are educated in CPR to a level where they are comfortable enough to perform it on a stranger. Although adding this curriculum to schools will only affect the younger population, it will produce an educated generation in the future.
An essential organ, the heart, sits in the left side of the chest cavity and is about the size of a fist. As the main part of the circulatory system, it pumps blood and oxygen to the rest of the body. At an average rate of 72 beats per minute and an average lifespan of 75 years, the human heart beats about 2,838,240,000 times in a lifetime (“Home: Where The Heart Is.” The Franklin Institute, n.d Web 4 Jan. 2015). There are four heart chambers along with four valves that help pump the blood to the organs and muscles of the body. Blood enters the heart through the Vena Cava (a blood vessel). From the right atria, blood travels through the tricuspid valve, the right ventricle and through the pulmonary valve and artery to the lungs. In the lungs, oxygen molecules attach to red blood cells and travel back to the heart through pulmonary veins. Once back in the heart, the blood cells flow from the left atria through the bicuspid (mitral) valve into the left ventricle, the aortic valve and pumped throughout the whole body by way of the aorta (Mahar, Ann Marie “Circulation” Rutland High School, Rutland, Vermont. Sept. 2013 n.p.). In order to pump the blood to the rest of the human body, the left ventricle is lined with very strong, thick endocardium. This entire process is carried out with every heartbeat.
Heart Disease
Yes, it is a disease found in the heart, but it is the leading cause of death in the United States with a death count of 596,577 in 2010 (“Leading Causes of Death.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 14 July 2014 Web. 4 Jan. 2015). Cancer had a total of 576,691 deaths. There are many different types of heart disease. A few ubiquitous ones include:
- Atherosclerosis- often referred to as hardening of the arteries. This occurs when deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste products, calcium and other substances build up in the inner lining of an artery. This buildup is called plaque (“Atherosclerosis and Stroke” The American Stroke Association 16 Sept. 2014 Web 14 Jan 2015).
- Atrial fibrillation-the most common coronary disease, is characterized by an irregular (often rapid) heartbeat that attributes to poor blood circulation to the body. It occurs when the two upper chambers or the heart, the atria, fibrillate not giving the muscles time to relax and fill with blood causing blood to pool inside them Afib, although non life-threatening, can lead to a blood clot, heart attack or stroke (Robertello, Michael MD. Personal Interview. May 2014).
- Cardiomegaly-a general term used to describe any condition that results in an enlarged heart. There are two types of cardiomegaly: Dilative and Hypertrophic. Dilative cardiomegaly occurs when the enlargement is due to dilation of the myocardium (the heart muscle). Hypertrophic cardiomegaly occurs when placed under a high workload for a prolonged period of time (“Cardiomegaly” The University of Michigan Medical School n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2015).
- Cardiomyopathy- the disease of the heart muscle. There are many different kinds of cardiomyopathy including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, amyloid cardiomyopathy, and restrictive cardiomyopathy (“Cardiomyopathy Information” The Cardiomyopathy Association n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2015).
Heart Health
As such an important organ, it is important to keep your heart healthy to prevent the development of a heart disease. One of the most important aspects of heart health is a healthy diet. “You may be eating plenty of food, but your body may not be getting the nutrients it needs to be healthy. Nutrient-rich foods have vitamins, minerals, fiber and other nutrients but are lower in calories. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables may help you control your weight, cholesterol and your blood pressure” (“Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations.” American Heart Association, Inc. Feb. 2014 Web 6 Jan. 2015). Eating foods with lots of fat can clog arteries and veins with a substance called plaque that causes the heart to work harder to pump blood and can lead to heart attack and stroke. This fat and bad cholesterol is what causes obesity therefore leading to heart problems. In addition to diet, exercise is very important to heart health. Adults need at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week (“The Basics.” National Health Information Center, 25 Nov. 2014 Web. 7 Jan 2015). Another improvement one could make is to quit smoking. Smoking decreases good cholesterol, your tolerance for physical activity and increases the tendency for blood to clot. Smoking is also an important risk factor for stroke. Inhaling cigarette smoke produces several effects that damage the cerebrovascular system (“Why Quit Smoking?” American Heart Association, Inc. 29 Dec. 2014 Web 7 Jan. 2015).
Heart Attacks & Cardiac Arrest
Unlike many may think, a heart attack isn't the same thing as going into cardiac arrest. A heart attack is a “circulation” problem and sudden cardiac arrest is an “electrical” problem (“Heart Attack or Sudden Cardiac Arrest: How Are They Different?” American Heart Association, Inc. 30 July 2014 Web 8 Jan. 2015). A heart attack occurs when there is an infarction in an artery restricting blood flow to the heart while cardiac arrest occurs when the heart’s rhythm is disrupted and stops beating unexpectedly. Although these conditions are not the same, they are linked. Sudden cardiac arrest can occur after a heart attack, or during recovery, but most heart attacks do not lead to sudden cardiac arrest (“Heart Attack or Sudden Cardiac Arrest: How Are They Different?” American Heart Association, Inc. 30 July 2014 Web 8 Jan. 2015). Cardiac arrests are sudden and often show no prior symptoms where heart attacks may show warning signs. Some signs include uncomfortable pressure in the chest, discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach, shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea, and or light-headedness (Joseph P. Ornato, MD; Mary M. Hand, MSPH, RN “Warning Signs of Cardiac Arrest.” American Heart Association, Inc. Web 8 Jan. 2015).
Who can have a Heart Attack?
The answer is anyone, but there are certain factors that can increase your risk of a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest. These factors include but are not limited to family history of early heart disease (father or brother diagnosed before age 55 or mother or sister diagnosed before age 65), diabetes mellitus, age (over 45 years of age), high blood cholesterol, hypertension (high blood pressure), cigarette smoking, obesity, or physical inactivity (Joseph P. Ornato, MD; Mary M. Hand, MSPH, RN “Warning Signs of a Heart Attack.” American Heart Association, Inc. Web 19 Jan. 2015). While some patients have no symptoms, other experience signs that will alert them that something is wrong. Many who have suffered from a heart attack report pain in the left arm or the left side of the body, but there are other signs as well. Similarly to cardiac arrest, signs include uncomfortable pressure in the chest, discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach, shortness of breath, cold sweat, nausea, and or light-headedness (“Warning Signs of a Heart Attack.” American Heart Association, Inc. 6 Aug. 2014 Web 19 Jan. 2015). If you or anyone you know experiences these symptoms, you should call 911 immediately.
What is CPR? Who needs it?
CPR is an abbreviation for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. This procedure is used when it appears that the heart has stopped beating. Someone who has gone into sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) or is near drowning needs CPR in hopes of survival. This lifesaving process includes a series of breaths and compressions. The first and most important part of CPR is calling 911. Although CPR can be affective, it is better to have the the medical professionals at your location as fast as possible. According to the newly developed CPR guidelines, an adult in need of CPR should get 30 compressions to two breaths, with the speed at least 100 hard compressions in the center of the chest per minute. For infants (ages one and under), the ratio should be 15 compressions to two breaths with the same speed. If an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) is present, it should be used along with CPR. This machine requires one to place sticky pads on the victim’s chest, and will give specific directs to the user as the process is carries out. In 2008, the AHA released a statement about Hands-Only™ CPR. This new system allows people who are sick or feel uncomfortable using their mouth to perform CPR without the use of breaths. “Hands-Only CPR is an easy-to-remember and effective option for people who have been trained in CPR before but are afraid to help because they are not confident that they can remember and perform the steps of conventional CPR (“Hands-Only CPR: Learn More” American Heart Association, Inc. Web 19 Jan. 2015). Whether it is regular CPR, CPR with an AED, or Hands-Only™ CPR, anything is better than nothing.
CPR Importance in Schools
There has been a huge push in the United States to require some form of formal CPR training in schools. The American Heart Association believes that when ordinary people, not just doctors and EMTs, are equipped with the skills to perform CPR, the survival rate can double, or even triple. In Vermont, Act 151, as of 2012 created a law for both public and independent schools. The law states that “students must demonstrate proficiency in health education as part of the revised Education Quality Standards. Comprehensive health education is considered part of the minimum course of study for Vermont schools, however students do not need to earn a CPR or AED certification (“Guidance for Implementation of Vermont Act 151 (2012)” Vermont Agency Education Oct. 2014 Web. 20 Jan, 2015). This is a large step in the right direction. As part of a nationwide health advancement, many other states have put similar laws in place. Organizations like the American Heart Association have set up websites to promote these laws. Their specific motto is “Be CPR Smart.” The website has a milestone goal on the homepage that has a goal of 1,000,000 graduates with fulfillment of CPR training every year. As this site was set up by a national organization, there are many other people out there trying to make a difference in their own state and community. There is even a blog at schoolscpr.com that shows a map of the United States where the progress for each state is shown. There are links to each law, and viewers can even learn how to bring CPR into the curriculum at their own school. With nearly half the states across the country requiring CPR training in schools, the next step could be a national law.
Steps for Teachers
Depending on the State, there is different criteria for a teacher to qualify to teach CPR. In Vermont, teachers do not need to hold a CPR or AED instructor certification in order to teach this content. However, in Vermont a physical education endorsement and health education endorsement requires that one must hold current certificates in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid (“Guidance for Implementation of Vermont Act 151 (2012)” Vermont Agency Education Oct. 2014 Web. 20 Jan, 2015). In this case, teachers do not need to be certified instructors. A teacher who wants to actually certify students needs to find the closest local training center and become an AHA instructor. The final step to this process is to be assessed on your first student training session, so the training instructor can verify that you’re qualified for the job.Once you become an Instructor, you will have access to the most current emergency cardiovascular care science, course updates, training resources and tools through the online AHA Instructor Network. You will also be able to post class dates and times to reach more students through our public website (“How to Become and AHA Instructor” American Heart Association, Inc. 2 Sep. 2014 Web 21 Jan. 2015). Teachers without these qualifications can use videos from the AHA website to use as instruction. This association feels so strongly about CPR education that they open up their resources to help equip any teacher that is working to put a training program in place.
WHY DO WE CARE?
Each year, approximately 300,000 persons in the United States experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA); approximately 92% of persons who experience an OHCA event die ( Amy L. Valderrama, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 29 July 2011 Web. 21 Jan. 2015). The majority of persons who experience an OHCA event do not receive bystander-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation or other timely interventions that are known to improve the likelihood of survival to hospital discharge. Approximately 36.7% of OHCA events were witnessed by a bystander. Only 33.3% of all patients received bystander CPR, and only 3.7% were treated by bystanders with an automated external defibrillator (AED) before the arrival of EMS providers (Amy L. Valderrama, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 29 July 2011 Web. 23 Jan. 2015). These low statistics can dramatically increase if common people are educated in CPR to a level where they are comfortable enough to perform it on a stranger. Although adding this curriculum to schools will only affect the younger population, it will produce an educated generation in the future.