Data retrieved from emergency responses to sudden cardiac arrest indicates you have about a 50% better chance of surviving if you have this event within the city limits of Madison.
According to the statistics gathered during 2010, city firefighter and paramedics were able to intervene with life saving measures that resulted in more favorable outcomes than these same events in other parts of the county and state.
State of the art equipment and regular, extensive training were cited as important factors in being able to obtain these statistics, however, the overwhelming reason cited by fire personnel for this success was bystander CPR being initiated prior to their arrival. They were quick to point out that without this intervention, most of these patients would not have had the successful outcome that they did.
A person in cardiac arrest will begin to have detrimental effects in four to six minutes post arrest. However, with CPR, this time frame is extended and allows for successful interventions considerably past the four to six minute time limit. Since most emergencies require much more time than this to process, dispatch, respond to, and make patient access; CPR is a required component for successful intervention by emergency response personnel.
“We rely on our citizens to help” states Madison Fire and Rescue’s Captain Russ Kennington, “without their extending our patients survivability window, we are tasked with a very difficult job. That is why we offer CPR classes to our citizens. It does help save lives, and you never know, it just may be someone you love.”
If you would like further information on Madison Fire & Rescue’s Community CPR Program or would like to register for a scheduled class date, please call Fire Station 1 at 256-772-3326.