Help save a life: North Shore Fire Dept. encourages hands-only CPR

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Firefighters face emergencies every day, but your average person doesn't making it a scary situation.

"A lot of people are afraid to react in an emergency for a number of different reasons. But in a cardiac arrest, the most common reason is they're afraid of having to do mouth-to-mouth," said North Shore Fire Department Lt. Dan Tyk.

That's why the North Shore Fire Department is encouraging people to use hands-only CPR.

"Studies have found that there's enough oxygen still circulating in the blood for about 10 minutes so just doing compression only CPR will still circulate oxygenated blood to the heart and to the brain and the other vital organs until first responders arrive," said Lt. Tyk.

Fire officials say only 20 percent of bystanders in Milwaukee County react in an emergency situation. By educating the public about hands-only CPR through classes and public events, fire officials hope to raise that rate to 50 percent by next year.

"You can provide the most effect during that first 2 - 3 minutes of somebody suffering a cardiac arrest," said Lt. Tyk.

Chest compressions should be 2 inches deep on an adult and 1 1/2 inches deep on an infant or child, with at least 100 compressions per minute. Milwaukee County fire departments also have access to a compression feedback mannequin, which tests the rate and quality of you compressions.

"The previous CPR manikin's you got a click so you thought you were doing high quality CPR but you never really got that real sensation of how tired you`re going to be after 2 minutes of CPR," said Lt. Tyk.

Important training that can save a life.

About 100 volunteers will be at the Admirals game on March 8th at 4 p.m. in the BMO Harris Bradley Center teaching people hands-only CPR.

For more information on how to get CPR certified call 414-357-0113 ext. 1513.