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The CPR Prompt® Rescue & Practice Aid
In
the early 70's, Don Hutchins and his wife thought it would be a good idea to
learn CPR, and took a course at the local community center in Massachusetts
where they live. A couple weeks after the course, The Hutchins were
entertaining friends at home -- when Don decided that he was going to show
off his new CPR skills. Don's wife laid down on the floor to play
"victim" ... but Don froze. He could not remember the steps. Don
just could not believe that he had forgotten the steps so quickly; but, in
doing research on CPR, he later found that the American Heart Association and
CPR instructors have long recognized the retention problems associated with
CPR learning -- and have conducted multiple studies documenting the
issue. Don
believed that he needed to do something about this -- and conceived the idea
of a portable voiceprompter that could talk someone through the steps of CPR
in an emergency -- to help them remember ... and feel more confident to act.
From this idea, he went on to develop the first CPR Prompt. MORE ABOUT THE RETENTION
ISSUE
How
real is the retention issue? The American Heart Association Emergency Cardiac
Care Committee called it a "major issue" at its l992 conference --
a conclusion that was recently reconfirmed by an American
Heart Association Scientific Statement. During the last 15 years, over 35 different retention studies have
been conducted, showing that people tend to forget CPR learning as early as
three months after training -- even among highly trained professionals --
including doctors, nurses, police officers and more. As one occupational
health nurse recently said, "CPR is not like riding a bike ... if you
don't use it, you lose it." THE PANIC FACTOR CPR
can be difficult to remember under the best of circumstances. But consider
when most people are asked to recall these skills -- in an emergency
situation ... that probably involves a family member. In
this setting, it's natural for people to panic -- which can further aggravate
retention issues ... and hinder their ability to act ... and act quickly. The
American Heart Association and CPR instructors also have studied the role of
confidence in performing CPR. It's not enough to remember the steps ... the
rescuer needs to feel confident ... and be willing to ACT. CPR PROMPT: TWO SOLUTIONS
IN ONE Seconds
count in breathing and cardiac emergencies. So how do you help overcome panic
and memory issues ... and ensure that people are prepared, and feel prepared,
to act quickly. The recent American
Heart Association Scientific Statement highlights the roles that VOICEPROMPTER TECHNOLOGY and HOME PRACTICE
products can play in helping to address these problems. CPR
Prompt is a portable voiceprompter that talks a trained person through the
steps of CPR and choking first aid ... for use in an emergency or as a
convenient refresher. CPR PROMPT AS RESCUE AID Just
imagine if you could have your own CPR coach at your side in an emergency...
ready to talk you through the steps ... to help you remember the procedures
.. and to stay calm. That's precisely what CPR Prompt can do -- with
its calm, confident voice that provides step-by-step instructions ... first
to help you assess the victim ... and then to perform the correct rescue
procedure. CPR
Prompt operates in real time -- so it not only helps to ensure that you
perform the right steps ... in the right order ... but at the right pace. Its
specific instructions also help ensure that steps are performed correctly --
and according to American Heart Association guidelines. For example, the
results of a 1996 study -- conducted by Dr. Larry Starr, a professor at
Villanova University -- which was published in the April issue of Occupational Health & Safety. In
this study, participants were asked to demonstrate CPR skills on a training
manikin about 30 days after completing a CPR class. Approximately half of the
subjects were given a CPR Prompt during this drill -- while the other half
had to rely only on their memory. Rescuers
with access to CPR Prompt during the simulated emergency were 2.4 times more
likely to perform all of the required steps and 4.5 times more likely to
perform skills correctly .. and in accordance with American Heart Association
guidelines. |
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Percent of Subjects Performing CPR Skills |
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Item |
Prompt |
Control |
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Established unresponsivenss |
91.89
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70.00
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Performed all 7 CPR steps |
73.00 |
30.00 |
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Chart: Occupational Health & Safety, May, 1997. CPR
PROMPT AS PRACTICE AID
Ideally, every rescuer could have access to a voiceprompter during every CPR emergency. But given that this is unlikely to happen (in the near future), it is fortunate that the American Heart Association and its CPR instructors have identified another way to help address retention problems and better prepare people for emergencies. The solution? PRACTICE! This is why the American Heart Association is encouraging families (and professional responders) to use CPR Prompt products to practice and review at home. Here are just a few ways to use the CPR Prompt Rescue and Practice Aid to help maintain your valuable skills. o
LISTEN
TO CPR PROMPT. CPR Prompt comes with a handy wall-mount bracket so you and
your family can place it in a visible location (ideally next to the family
telephone). Periodically listen to CPR Prompt to help refresh knowledge --
even while working around the home or anytime convenient for you. o
LISTEN
TO THE CPR PROMPT AND READ. CPR Prompt comes with a Refresher booklet -- that
provides visual aids that follow-along with the audible prompts. Listen to
CPR Prompt and follow along using the book -- to help illustrate some of the
specific prompts provided. o
PRACTICE
CPR SKILLS WITH CPR PROMPT AND A MANIKIN. Many CPR instructors currently
drill their students using CPR Prompt and manikins. It is possibly the best
way to maintain important skills! Practice CPR skills using the CPR Prompt
and a training manikin (such as the one included in the CPR Prompt Home Learning System). PRACTICE
EVERY 45 DAYS No matter how you and your family choose to review your
CPR skills and knowledge, take time to practice once every 45 days. To help
you remember to practice, CPR Prompt even has a handy Practice Light Reminder
that flashes every 45 days after use. The CPR Prompt Home Learning System is also an excellent way to practice and review CPR skills and learning.
CPR Prompt® is a registered Trademark of County Line
Limited, L.L.C. |
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Copyright © 1998 American EHS / American CPR Training