DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - As more Americans take on the role of caregiver for both children and aging loved ones, the American Red Cross is urging people to be prepared for emergencies by learning CPR and first aid.
During National Heart Month, Red Cross leaders said now is the time to take action, especially as cardiac emergencies continue to impact families across the country.
Jayce Eustice, regional communications manager with the American Red Cross of Illinois, said the organization is encouraging people to show their loved ones they care about by getting trained.
"We really urge people to show your loved ones how much you care by taking Red Cross first aid, CPR, and AED classes," Eustice said. "Having that knowledge, having that confidence to act when someone is in danger and when seconds count can help triple someone's chances of surviving a medical emergency such as cardiac arrest."
According to the Red Cross, more than 300,000 cardiac arrests happen outside of hospitals each year, yet only about one-third of Americans say they feel confident enough to respond in an emergency. Eustice said that the lack of training is especially concerning as more families juggle caregiving responsibilities.
"We know millions of Americans right now serve as caregivers… supporting young children and also their older loved ones at the same time," he said. "We also know that many of these individuals lack that critical, lifesaving training."
Many of those emergencies happen at home, making everyday people the first line of defense when seconds matter most. The Red Cross offers a wide range of classes, from basic first aid and "Stop the Bleed" training to more advanced CPR and AED certification courses.
"There's a bunch of classes that people can sign up and take both in-person and virtually," Eustice said. "We need that community for a medical emergency."
Eustice said the training continues to evolve with the latest science, including updated infant CPR techniques and guidance on responding to cardiac emergencies.
"For over 100 years, the American Red Cross has been a national leader in first aid education," he said. "We've been training more than three million people per year… and we just want to make sure people have that up-to-date information to help save a life."
He added that anyone can and should learn CPR. The Red Cross recommends everyone consider training, especially since many emergencies happen at home. People can find classes by visiting redcross.org or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS. The organization is also looking for more instructors to help expand training across communities.
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