Takoma Park CPR

A surprising new study published in the journal Anesthesia suggests that bag-valve mask ventilation (first responders’ and clinicians’ method of rescue breathing) is not as hazardous to rescuers, as a COVID vector, as previously suspected.

The Maryland Institute for EMS Systems published important data about bystander CPR and AED use nationwide. Of people who go into cardiac arrest outside a clinical setting, just over 40% get bystander CPR; not counting cases that occur in private homes, only 9% get bystander AED treatment.

Those are not good numbers.

In most cases, bystander action before EMS arrives will determine whether the patient survives — whether they get to go home from the hospital. Bystanders, not EMS.

Please remember you can't make the situation any worse by trying -- you can only make it worse by not trying. You CANNOT get in legal trouble by trying. You DO NOT need a card. You don't even need formal training, though of course training makes you more confident and more likely to be effective. But the most important thing by far is: don't just stand there and wait for someone else to help. This is a moment, and a human being, in need of YOU.