By Councilwoman Maria Baier

Bruce Toliver, a captain/paramedic with the Phoenix Fire Department, is on a campaign to save lives by getting information out about the newest CPR technique. He spends his time training paramedics and working on the streets. He first became aware of this new technique called continuous-chest-compression CPR when he attended a lecture and demonstration by Dr. Ben Bobrow of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Mayo Clinic. The new method has a proven track record of increasing survivability for sudden cardiac arrest victims. The city of Phoenix has tripled survivability in these patients by using this life-saving technique.

Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in our country. On average one person in Phoenix dies of sudden cardiac arrest each day. Historically, once your heart stops beating, your survival rate is dismal. Even though sudden cardiac arrest can be preventable and treatable, most victims die because they do not receive effective help quickly enough. To survive, it is critical for the victim to receive immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation to keep oxygen flowing to vital organs. Survival generally depends on the help of bystanders who intervene without hesitation.

Recently the American Heart Association has accepted the findings of several studies that suggest sudden cardiac arrest victims may be better off without mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The change comes from the realization that it’s critical to immediately get the blood circulating again, which is what continuous-chest-compression CPR does if performed correctly, to have any chance of survival. Because of this technique, your hands truly become their heart.

Further, research conducted at the Sarver Heart Center at the University of Arizona in Tucson and elsewhere has shown that overwhelming numbers of people will not perform CPR because they are reluctant to do mouth-to-mouth breathing. In addition, stopping chest compressions to give mouth-to-mouth breaths may be more harmful than helpful.

With the awareness of the new method, experts hope bystanders will now be more willing to jump in and help if they see someone suddenly collapse. Continuous-chest-compression CPR removes a big barrier for people skittish about the mouth-to-mouth breathing. Further, this technique maximizes blood flow to the heart and brain during resuscitation by focusing on rapid, forceful chest compressions.

The best part is that there is very little training and no certification necessary. The steps are easy to use and easy to remember. Follow these instructions to perform the more effective continuous-chest-compression CPR:

• Direct someone to call 911 or make the call yourself

• Position the victim on the floor on his or her back

• Place one hand on top of the other and place the heel of the bottom hand on the center of the victim's chest

• Lock your elbows and begin forceful chest compressions at a rate of 100 per minute

• If an AED is available, attach it to the victim and follow the machine's instructions

• If no AED is available, perform continuous chest compressions until paramedics arrive. Take turns if someone else is there.

• Gasping is not an indication of normal breathing or recovery. Initiate and continue compressions even if the person gasps.

Thanks to Bruce and his education outreach efforts, Phoenix now has a new weapon in the fight against sudden cardiac arrest. This new technique is only effective if people know about it.

For more information or to view a video on how to perform continuous-chest-compression CPR, visit azshare.gov.