Press the Chest CPR Training

About the Program

Category: Risk and Emergency Management (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

The annual “Press the Chest” training event falls in line with the Leon County Board of County Commissioners’ “Quality of Life” strategic initiatives by providing an essential service that inspires residents to get involved in their own healthcare while fostering an environment where participants feel connected to their community. With sudden cardiac arrest claiming the lives of nearly 400,000 people each year in the United States, Leon County believes that through proper education residents lives can be saved. Leon County Emergency Medical Services (LCEMS) data shows that Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is performed only 20% of the time by bystanders prior to EMS arrival. By offering CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training to the community, the LCEMS can better serve its mission to increase health awareness and preparedness for the residents of Leon County. Most EMS systems across the nation have an average resuscitation rate of between 5-7%. LCEMS has an average of 33-34% for the past three years. This huge difference is due to the continuous efforts of LCEMS to train residents how to perform CPR within the community. This significant improvement has led to a higher quality of life within the community. “Press the Chest” community training is an annual event where highly credentialed Leon County EMS personnel train nearly 400 participants in one session the newly updated skills of “Hands-Only” CPR, AED use and choking techniques. Each participant of the “Press the Chest” training receives an American Heart Association (AHA) “CPR Anytime” kit, which contains a CPR manikin and DVD. Participants are encouraged to use these kits to train family and friends at home, further increasing community involvement and raising the quality of life for County residents.