• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Health / Medicine / Red Cross wants you to learn to use a defribrillator

Red Cross wants you to learn to use a defribrillator

February 23, 2007 By admin

For decades, the American Red Cross has stressed the importance of learning CPR. Now, the agency says it’s just as important to learn the A-E-D, or automatic external defibrillator, a gadget that can jump-start your heart. Tom Whitcomb, at the Red Cross’ Central Iowa chapter, says combined courses are being offered that won’t take much time or money — and could help you save a life.

Whitcomb says the time is basically the length of a televised sporting event, three-and-a-half to four-and-a-half hours, and the cost is a little more than a tank of gas, depending on whether the Red Cross goes to the workplace or if someone comes in to a chapter, somewhere between 30 and 55-dollars. He says heart attacks kill three-to-four people nationwide every minute.

Whitcomb says more than 300-thousand Americans die from sudden cardiac arrest every year, which is more than those killed by: breast cancer, prostate cancer, AIDS, housefires, traffic accidents and handgun crimes — combined. Even in a rural state like Iowa, he says it’s the agency’s goal to always have A-E-D-trained people nearby. He says the mission is to have someone trained within four minutes distance because for every minute that passes, the person’s chances of survival drop ten-percent — so if five minutes go by and there’s no help, that person’s survival rate is cut in half.

Whitcomb says the A-E-Ds have dropped significantly in price and size. They’re now running about 15-hundred dollars and are about the size of a shoebox. For information on getting trained, contact your nearest Red Cross office.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Health / Medicine

Featured Stories

Bill would limit placement of solar arrays on farm ground

Marquette casino moving to land, leaving only 2 casino boats in Iowa

Reynolds signs her ‘school choice’ bill into law

Governor Reynolds touts 2024 Iowa Caucuses in Inaugural Address

University of Iowa grad presiding over U.S. House Speaker vote

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

No coaching changes coming for Iowa football

Iowa State names new receivers coach

No. 2 Iowa visits No. 1 Penn State in wrestling dual Friday night

Iowa’s Clark brings increased exposure to women’s basketball

No. 18 Iowa State women visit TCU

More Sports

Archives

Copyright © 2023 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC