Charlotte CPR and First Aid Blog

Highlights from the National Safety Council's 2009 Congress and Expo

2009-11-09T23:05:00.002-05:00

Highlights from the National Safety Council's 2009 Congress & Expo opened on Monday, Oct. 26. To view the NSC official YouTube Channel, visit: http://www.youtube.com/user/NatlSafetyCouncil

CPR and First Aid Classes now offered at South Charlotte Ramada Hotel on Thursday Evenings

2009-10-07T22:10:00.001-04:00

Press Release: Caskey CPR has partnered with the Ramada Hotel in Charlotte to offer CPR and First Aid classes at the Ramada Airport South and Conference Center in South Charlotte. Conveniently located on Exit 6A off I-77, the Ramada features high-class spacious conference rooms perfect for the CPR and First Aid training classes that Caskey CPR offers.

Caskey CPR will start offering classes on Thursday evenings in October, 2009 from 5pm until 10pm. Classes will be $55 per person and certify students in CPR for two years and First Aid for three years. Although space is limited, the schedule of courses can be found online at Caskey CPR's website. Other regularly scheduled classes will still be held on Saturdays as well as privately scheduled classes upon request.

For more information about class dates and course information, View Our Class Schedule.

Reference Link: Caskey CPR Press Releases

10 Ways to Reduce Pandemic Flu for a Safer Work Environment - OSHA

2009-08-18T23:34:00.005-04:00

Here are ten simple steps every employer can take to reduce the risk of exposure to pandemic influenza in their workplace:

Avoid crowded settings.
Encourage sick employees to stay at home.
Wash your hands frequently.
Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue.
Avoid shaking hands.
Provide tissues and trash cans to employees and public.
Disinfect telephones, work surfaces, computer equipment and other frequently used surfaces.
Discourage use of other employees telephones, desks, offices or work equipment.
Reduce or eliminate unnecessary social interaction.
Promote healthy lifesytles including good nutrition, exercise, and stopping smoking.

reference: [download OSHA Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic PDF]

Protect Yourself From Poisonous Plants

2009-07-23T22:27:00.003-04:00

"The National Safety Council reminds you to protect yourself from the sun and other summer health risks, such as poisonous plants." - nsc.org

Signs & Symptoms

A day or two after contact with the plant a skin rash will appear. Symptoms such as these can be mild to severe.

Itching
Redness
Swelling
Burning feeling
Blisters

How Poison Ivy is Contracted

Contact with poison ivy, poison oak, or posion sumac by simply touching one of these plants will cause the above symptoms. The sap from these plants can get on your clothes, shoes, pets and can remain potent for over a year. Do not attempt to burn these plants because contact with the smoke can also cause a rash.

Treatment

Take a cold shower. Use soap or pour cold water over the rash area.
An over-the-counter antihistamine, such as Benadryl may relieve itching. Make sure to follow the directions.
Throw away clothes that have come in contact with these plants and bathe pets in cold water and use soap.
Do not touch your eyes, mouth, and face with your hands.
Do not scratch or rub the rash.
A paste of 3 teaspoons of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of water.

References: List of Poisonous Plans in North Carolina, First Aid for Poison Ivy

Reduce Distracted Driving in Teens

2009-07-10T23:48:00.003-04:00

"DEATH BY CELL PHONE" is becomming a more common occurance as drivers have proven to be more distracted in this way that even alcohol impairment.

Reference Link: National Safety Council's Distracted Driving Campaign

Many states are passing laws banning text messages and/or cell phone use while vehicles are in motion. This may help cut down the deaths due to cell phone use, however, attentive drivers are what we need to make our roads a safer place.

June is National Safety Month

2009-06-17T06:15:00.004-04:00

For more information about National Safety Month, visit the National Safety Month website.

National Safety Month encourages us to protect ourselves during the course of each day. This year the National Safety Month topics are:

Teen Driving - one of the leading causes of death for young people.
Fall Prevention - the single largest cause of injury in the world.
Overexertion - not a topic that many people think about but widely important.
Distracted Driving - becoming more of an issue every day with cell phone distractions and other on-the-road factors.

Find out how to be most protected and read more by visiting our National Safety Month page.

Summer Safety at the Swimming Pool

2009-04-29T14:15:00.004-04:00

Each year the weather gets warmer and the swimming pools open up. Looking for relief from the heat and a break from indoor activities, parents and babysitters take children to the swimming pool. While swimming is a great way to exercise, have fun, and to cool off, there are dangers in the water that most people do not recognize. Below are some tips to make your next trip to the swimming pool a safe one.

Discuss with your children the fact that they should not drink the water in the pool. It is best for them to keep their mouths and eyes closed when swimming underwater. While the most recognized concern is other children who urinate and even defecate in the water, there are other micro-organisms to be concerned about. Because the eyes, nose, and mouth have mucous membranes, they are an easy way for these micro-organisms to enter your body. This is another great reason that children and adults should wash their hands on a regular basis.
If your child complains of being cold, is shivering, has chattering teeth, or is visibly paler than usual or blue, it is time to get them out of the water. Often times the air around us may be very hot in the summer, but the water in the swimming pool has not warmed up enough to prevent shock. Please do not tell your child to keep swimming in order to warm up. This will endanger their life. Instead, if you see those signs and symptoms, get them out of the pool and warm them up slowly. (Rapid warming can cause heart problems.) Place towels or an emergency blanket around them. Sit them in the sun instead of the shade.
Another risk factor includes dehydration. Make sure that your child has adequate clean drinking water. Being in the sun and exercising in the pool can cause them to become dehydrated. Encourage them to keep sipping on water while playing, not just at the pool, but anytime. If your child doesn’t care for water, give them a solution of fruit juice that has been mixed with water; aim for a 50/50 ratio. This will help keep them hydrated in the hotter seasons.

Put Down Your Cell Phone While Driving!

2009-02-01T18:27:00.003-05:00

National Safety Council Calls for Nationwide Ban on Cell Phone Use While Driving

link: http://www.nsc.org/news/cellphone_ban.aspx

“Studies show that driving while talking on a cell phone is extremely dangerous and puts drivers at a four times greater risk of a crash,” said Janet Froetscher, president and CEO of the NSC. “Driving drunk is also dangerous and against the law. When our friends have been drinking, we take the car keys away. It’s time to take the cell phone away.”

Reducing death from Radon

2009-01-30T18:11:00.002-05:00

Radon is a colorless, odorless and tasteless natural gas, and is our nation’s second leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking.

Radon is linked to about 21,000 cancer deaths each year. It is estimated that residents of one in every 15 homes are exposed to unsafe levels of radon.

Learn more about protecting against Radon

Remember, unless you test for it, there is no way of telling how much Radon is present.

Basic First Aid - WSOC Article

2008-11-01T13:48:00.003-04:00

Accidents Happen. What do you do? WSOC cares and so do we.

Basic First Aid article from WSOC: http://www.wsoctv.com/family/876795/detail.html

Get great information about cuts, abrasions, signs of an infected wound, fainting, frostbite, poison ivy, signs of strain, and heat stroke.

2008 Charlotte Heart Walk

2008-09-28T16:39:00.004-04:00

The 2008 Charlotte Heart Walk on September 20th, 2008 was a great success. Caskey CPR provided demonstrations and information on First Aid and CPR to the participants of the Charlotte Heart Walk on the corner of Trade and Tryon in Charlotte, NC.

The importance of saving a life was shown to hundreds that attended and information about basic CPR, First Aid classes as well as refresher courses and airborne pathogens classes give the Charlotte area a new lease on life.

Basic adult/child/infant CPR, First Aid, and AED classes - 6 hour class with certification
CPR Refresher course - 2 hour class without certification
First Aid Refresher course - 2 hour class without certification
Parent/Grandparent Refresher course - 2 hour class without certification
Bloodborne/Airborne Pathogens class - with certification

Or contact us with questions or group rates.

First Aid Refresher Course in Charlotte, NC

2008-09-27T17:00:00.004-04:00

What do you do in Emergency Situations?

Not quite sure what to do in emergency situations? Caskey CPR is offering refresher courses in basic First Aid in the Charlotte area.

This is a short, 2 hour class that answers questions such as:

What do I do in the case of a burn?

My child swallowed a substance, who do I call?

How do I treat broken bones or physical injuries?

What do I do for spider or snake bites?

For more information or to register for this class, visit the First Aid Refresher Class page.

CPR Refresher Class in Charlotte

2008-08-27T16:34:00.002-04:00

Learned CPR before and need to Refresh your Skills?

Caskey CPR in Charlotte, NC is offering refresher cources in CPR to the greater Charlotte metro area.

This short 2-hour class updates students with new information reciently released from the National Safety Council. Answers questions such as:

How many compressions / breaths are currently give the highest rate of survival.

What is the proceedure for CPR?

Practice on a nationally certified mannequins (adult and child) plus hands on infant cpr practice.

A laminated Skills Card is included.

For more information or to register for this class, visit the CPR Refresher Class page.

Parent and Grandparent Refresher Class

2008-07-05T16:14:00.001-04:00

Caskey CPR is now offering Parent and Grandparent Refresher courses in the Charlotte, NC area. These classes answer the questions and address the issues relevant to Parents and Grandparents of young children.

This class answers questions such as:

What do I do if my child or infant is choking?

How do I perform CPR on an infant?

Should I be concerned about summer/winter weather exposure?

What do I do in case of a burn?

What kind of items should I keep in a first aid kit when children are around?

Designed to fit into your busy schedule, this two hour course makes sure that you can provide a safe environment for the children in your life.

The course comes with a laminated skills card for quick reference.

For more information about this course or to register, view the Parent/Grandparent Refresher Class page.

Providing First Aid in Charlotte, NC

2008-05-10T10:24:00.003-04:00

Charlotte, NC - Charlotte residents are encouraged to keep an adequate First Aid Kit at home. Basic First Aid/CPR courses are also encouraged in order to help save lives.

In 2005, 33 million people in the U.S. sought help for some type of injury. 2.8 million Americans were hospitalized for their injuries. Many of these could have been prevented or lessened by proper safety and first aid proceedures.

"The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) recommends all adults take a basic first aid course so they are better prepared to deal with emergencies. In addition, every home should have a first aid kit. Families should also carry a first aid kit in their vehicles."

- Channel 9 Eyewitness News

Make sure your family and friends are protected by taking a CPR course from Caskey CPR.

Source: wsoctv.com

Hands-Only CPR Advisory Statement

2008-05-10T09:23:00.001-04:00

Don't know CPR?

You can still make a difference!

For un-trained bystanders, chest compressions without mouth-to-mouth still helps!

The purpose of the Advisory Statement is to encourage the use of Hands-Only CPR by untrained bystanders and by trained bystanders who are not confident that they can perform conventional CPR. The statement also notes that trained bystanders who are confident that they can perform conventional CPR with minimal interruption to chest compressions can do so or they can perform Hands-Only CPR.

" The procedure is simple: if you see an adult collapse after having a heart attack, immediately call 911 and then push hard and fast in the middle of the chest continuously, until emergency medical personnel arrive or an external defibrillator can be used. "

- New York Times

The Advisory Statement does not change the guidelines for conventional CPR (30 compressions and 2 breaths) for adults whose sudden cardiac arrest is not witnessed, victims of drowning, and infants and children. The National Safety Council’s current CPR materials are technically correct. We will continue to teach conventional CPR and will incorporate Hands-Only CPR in adult CPR instruction for lay rescuers.

Source: http://www.nsc.org/handsonly_cpr.aspx

Source: New York Times

10 Reasons to Learn CPR

2008-05-08T09:47:00.000-04:00

A heart attack (cardiac arrest) can strike someone you love.
You will be able to recognize the symptoms of a heart attack.
You will know when to call for help.
Cardiac arrest is reversible --- if you know what to do.
Victims of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest who receive CPR from bystanders are more than twice as likely to survive as victims who do not receive CPR.
You will be able to initiate the "chain of survival" that will deliver oxygen rich blood to victim's vital organs until help arrives.
You will learn how to help a choking child or adult.
You will learn how to operate an AED. A survival rate of 70 - 90% is expected for witnessed arrest if defibrillation occurs within one minute of arrest.
Anyone can learn CPR.
CPR saves lives!

Source: http://www.unioncity.org/fire/ten_reasons_cpr.htm

Distracted Driving: National Safety Month Reminder

2008-05-05T09:31:00.000-04:00

Did you know that nearly 80 percent of crashes involve some form of driver inattention?

Cell phone use is the most common distraction for drivers.

An estimated 10 percent of drivers in typical daylight are usingsome type of phone, hand-held or hands-free.

Talking, listening and dialing are equally dangerous. Hands-freecell phone conversations are as distracting as those on a handhelddevice.

The slower reaction time caused by cell phone use is comparableto that of people who are legally drunk (.08 blood alcohol content).

Texting, GPS and in-car computers have added to the boom indistracting technologies.

The NSC reminds drivers that their first responsibility is safe driving. The NSC recommends that drivers establishand enforce a “driver distraction-free zone” inside their vehicles.

Source: National Safety Council

CPR/AED Awareness for Charlotte, NC

2008-04-28T09:40:00.000-04:00

Make a difference at work, at home, in your community. Get trained/stay trained in CPR and AED.

Heart disease – including heart attack – is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and a major cause of disability.
Heart attack can strike anywhere: on the job, while driving, in our homes and communities.
CPR and AED applied within minutes of sudden cardiac arrest doubles the chance of survival.
CPR and AED also improves chances of surviving any incident that stops oxygen flow to the brain, including drowning, choking or exposure to electric shock.
Your knowing CPR and AED could save a life.

CPR/AED Training is available through Caskey CPR. For a schedule of classes, visit Class Schedule.

Source: National Safety Council

Ball Player's heart stops during a game - Revived with CPR/AED

2008-04-26T10:04:00.000-04:00

Cary, NC - Local heros can come from anywhere. Alex Beuris is especially thankful for this when his heart stopped during his Lacrosse game in Cary, NC.

"Beuris doesn’t remember what happened next, when three doctors who happened to be in the stands watching the game rushed on to the field. After doing CPR, they used the school’s defibrillator and shocked Beuris heart back into motion."

Source: Link to Video News-14 Coverage: View Video

The importance of learning CPR and how to effectively use an AED machine is paramount to saving lives. Be prepared - you never know when you're going to need to use it.

Benefits of CPR Certification

Get Ready for National Safety Month

2008-03-23T00:49:00.000-04:00

June is National Safety Month. Join Caskey CPR in getting ready for National Safey Month by following a few common sense safety tips:

Make sure your household has a first aid kit.
Keep your first aid kit, all medications, including non-prescription drugs out of children's reach.
Before assisting a victim, protect yourself first.
When an emergency occurs, make sure the tongue does not block the victim's airway and that the mouth is free of any secretions and foreign objects.
See that the victim has a pulse and good blood circulation as you check for signs of bleeding.
It's vitally important not to move a person with serious neck or back injuries.
Have someone call for medical assistance while you apply first aid.
Don't give fluids to an unconscious or semiconscious person.
Look for an emergency medical identification card.

Be prepared by being certified in CPR and First Aid. Choose a class from our Schedule of Classes or get your organization certified by picking your own day to have us come to your office.

Unintentional Poisoning from Overdose

2008-03-16T01:00:00.000-04:00

Most people believe that poisoning is usually a childhood issue by naively consuming quantities of lethal or semi-lethal substances, adults are also just as susceptible. Recently there has been a large increase in the amount of unintential poisoning deaths. In the last 10 years, there has been a 107% increase in the number of deaths by poisioning in adults.

Watch out for these substances/causes:

Household chemicals

Misuse/abuse of medications
Dangers of inhalants
Children and poisons

Medicines

Pesticides
Children and poisons
Illegal pesticides

Environmental

Lead poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Dangerous plants

For a more in-depth look at poisoning and the prevention methods, register for a CPR/First Aid class with Caskey CPR.

Save a life on Valentine's Day

2008-02-15T00:22:00.001-05:00

Make this Valentine's Day a day to remember by learning how to save a life. Sign up for our Charlotte CPR and First Aid training classes in the month of February and get certified in life-saving.

It is never to late to learn CPR and First Aid. You may be the only hope that someone has to live.

Help give a life. Learn CPR.

For more information or to register for classes, visit our Class Schedule for details.

Leading Causes of Unintentional Deaths for the US and Charlotte Area

2008-02-13T11:05:00.000-05:00

According to Injury Facts, 2008 Edition, unintentional-injury deaths increased 2% in 2006 compared to 2005. In 2006, 120,000 unintentional-injury deaths were recorded compared to 118,000 in 2005.

The need for CPR and First Aid training is higher than ever before in order to prevent these numbers from rising higher.

Statistics also show that unintential deaths from falling as well as poisoning have increased considerably.

For more information about currently Charlotte CPR and First Aid classes, visit Class Schedule at www.caskeycpr.com.

Caskey CPR now offers Bloodborne Pathogens certification

2007-11-03T23:19:00.000-04:00

Just announced! Caskey CPR now offers classes in Bloodborne Pathogens. Contact Us to learn more about the Bloodborne Pathogens certification training class.

- The Caskey CPR team.