Kootenai County Fire & Rescue supports the national campaign to increase CPR and AED awareness and encourages all members of the community to prepare themselves and their loved ones for a cardiac emergency by learning Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). We also encourage businesses throughout the community to consider investing in a lifesaving Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for their place of business.
Anyone can learn CPR - and everyone should! Effective bystander CPR, provided immediately after sudden cardiac arrest, can double or triple a victim's chance of survival, but only 32 percent of cardiac arrest victims get CPR from a bystander. People who take a CPR course or view a CPR instructional video are significantly more likely to attempt life-saving resuscitation.
Full CPR courses are offered by many local agencies and businesses. A list of local CPR course providers is located on the American Heart Association website. Click here to find providers near Post Falls. Both the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association offer online CPR courses for a small fee. You can also prepare yourself to act in an emergency by viewing Hands Only® CPR videos offered online by both the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross.
Over 350,000 people will suffer from sudden cardiac arrest this year -It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere and at any age. While CPR increases the chance of survival, an AED is the only effective treatment for restoring a regular heart rhythm during sudden cardiac arrest. AEDs are easy and safe to use. If you are a business owner, please consider purchasing an AED for your place of business.
June is a busy time for all of us in North Idaho. The kids are getting out of school, the weather is finally warm enough to plant our gardens and spend some time on the lake. But there is nothing as important as preparing yourself for an emergency. During the month of June we encourage you to:
- Learn hands-only CPR by watching an online video or sign up for a full CPR course and encourage family and friends to do the same. AHA Video
- Download the Hands-only CPR Ready Reference sheets created by the American Red Cross for Adults or Children
- Download the free emergency applications for your mobile device created by the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association
- Purchase an AED for your business or encourage your employer to purchase one.