NC grassroots organization Minutes Matter promotes CPR
Minutes Matter! is a grassroots campaign started by 5 healthcare professionals with the goal of educating residents in western NC the life saving techniques of how to perform hands only CCR/CPR, how to recognize a stroke (utilizing Act FAST) and the importance of early 9-1-1 activation.
Nationally, it takes on average, 8 to 10 minutes for rescuers to arrive after someone calls 9-1-1. That can be too long for someone in sudden cardiac arrest. After 3-5 minutes without oxygen going to your brain, your brain begins to die. The chance of survival is increased if a bystander immediately and correctly performs CCR/CPR, which helps to maintain blood flow to the heart and brain while rescuers are responding.
Stroke is the leading cause of disability in America. Prompt recognition of stroke symptoms and fast activation of the 9-1-1 system can get the potential stroke victim the treatment they need. Knowing how to Act F.A.S.T. with a potential stroke victim is their chance of survival and decreased disability.
Events have already started taking place in WNC: by the core team and volunteers at Bele Chere, (a festival in Asheville, NC) with over 300 people trained; by WestCare EMS, a division of MedWest Healthcare at a storefront in Sylva, NC with 76 trained; Cherokee Tribal EMS at a health fair in Cherokee, NC with over 120 trained.
More events are scheduled.
Volunteers are needed for a booth at the NC Mountain State Fair in September!
Please contact us to see how easy it is to volunteer or to implement a Minutes Matter! event in your area by visiting www.wncminutesmatter.vblogs.net or email terigiordano@juno.com. Also, visit us on Facebook at Minutes Matter while our website is under construction!!!
MINUTES MATTER is supported by The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association, The National Institute for Neurological Disease, Mission Memorial Hospital, RACE, MAHEC, NC State Representative Becky Carney, The NC Office of EMS, Pardee Hospital, MedWest Healthcare, WestCare EMS, Cherokee Tribal EMS, CPR Across America, The Brain Attack Coalition, Zoll Medical and you!
