One of the things people frequently ask is what are the chances anyone will actually need to use the skills taught in a Red Cross first aid and CPR course, in their real life?
The first thing we have to say is that regardless of how minuscule the chances are that you will be called to save a life in an emergency, you will wish for dear God that you knew how to do it.
Second, medical emergencies are not as infrequent as you might think. The number of people that have had to deal with injuries of varying degrees in their everyday lives is actually pretty mind blowing. Especially considering that Canada is a seemingly safe country.
There are natural disasters such as the all too recent fire that raged across Fort McMurray, devastating entire neighborhoods. Summer had its share of drownings too. The average is approximately just below a 100 drownings a year in Ontario alone. How many of those people could have been saved if someone knew CPR when they were fished out of the water?
Bystander CPR and your Chances of Survival
Here’s another statistic, from the States. About 300,000 a year suffer a sudden cardiac arrest, the vast majority of which occur outside the reach of medical professionals. Sadly, the survival rate is only 8%, almost all of which are a result of the victim receiving CPR from a bystander, keeping them alive until the ambulance arrived. Only a third out of the 300,000 cases received CPR, saving a good portion of the victims.
Almost not a single one of those who didn’t get CPR ended up surviving the ordeal. This is how Red Cross CPR classes truly save lives.
If this correlation is correct, increasing the number of bystander CPR cases from 30% to a 100%, will raise the total survival rate from 8% to 32% accordingly. That’s over 100,000 people who will have kept their lives.
Canadian total numbers are different due to different population sizes and other factors, but you can be sure the percentages are roughly the same. For every three bystander CPR cases, one person will survive who would have otherwise died on the spot with almost absolute certainty.
The statistics speak for themselves, and strongly support taking a Red Cross First aid and CPR course as soon as you are able. It may be you, next time. Or a friend. Or a loved one.
Don’t wait for it to happen, prepare with one of our many first aid and CPR training courses instead, and be ready when it does.
