Facts about Ventricular Fibrillation and CPR Training Nashville, TN

A cardiac arrest is a life-threatening emergency which sees no age or sex before striking. Even a child or an infant can be at the receiving end of it. Ventricular fibrillation, or V-fib, is considered the most serious cardiac rhythm disturbance. Most cardiac arrests occur due to this abnormal heart rhythm.

A victim involved in a cardiac emergency would require immediate treatment for survival. The only way you can ensure that is by undergoing CPR training Nashville. The procedures comprise chest compressions and rescue breaths and proper application can revive the life of a victim struck with a cardiac arrest or heart attack. If you belong to the Nashville region in Tennessee, you can sign up for a course at the AHA certified CPR Nashville. Experienced instructors conduct the classes. At the end of the training classes, a student becomes eligible for a certification after successfully passing a skills test and written exam.

Ventricular Fibrillation- Disordered electrical activity causes the heart’s lower chambers (ventricles) to quiver, or fibrillate, instead of contracting (or beating) normally. This prohibits the organ from pumping blood, causing collapse and cardiac arrest. An arrhythmia of this type is a medical emergency as it’s life-threatening.

Causes of VFib:

Some of the root causes include:

1.      Insufficient blood flow to the heart muscle

2.      Damage to the heart muscle (from a heart attack, for example)

3.      Cardiomyopathy

4.      Problems with the aorta

5.      Drug toxicity

6.      Sepsis (severe body infection)

Ways to Reduce the Risk:

Your doctor may recommend Arrhythmia medications (which can help control rhythm disturbances) or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) (which can correct abnormal heart rhythms), if you’re at risk for ventricular fibrillation and its serious consequences.

Signs of Cardiac Arrest:

Like we have already mentioned that a cardiac arrest victim would require immediate medical attention for survival. Some of the signs include

        I.            Loss of responsiveness (no response to tapping on the shoulders)

      II.            No normal breathing (the victim is not breathing or is only gasping)

If you come across a victim who you feel is experiencing SCA, respond quickly and call for the emergency medical services by dialing 911. Give CPR and get hold of an AED device. If you are uncomfortable with performing rescue breaths, just carry on with the chest compressions.

AED devices are present in most public places these days like shopping malls, cinema halls, restaurants, etc. It is a very easy-to-use device. Just get hold of one, turn it on and follow the instructions. 

Learning life saving measures is serious and can be intimidating whether it is your first time or your 10th. The experienced American Heart Association instructors of CPR Nashville are trained to ensure the highest quality training experience possible. We want all of our students to be successful and leave feeling confident in the skills they have learned. All of our instructors are AHA certified and then complete additional training that focuses on our stress-free philosophy. Each of our instructors focus on students having fun, being relaxed, and becoming proficient in the skills they are taught during each of our classes.

For more information, contact CPR Nashville on 615-397-9316.

Types of Atrial Fibrillation and Risks for it in Nashville, TN

AFib is the most common heart rhythm disorder (arrhythmia). A major concern with AFib is that it also makes blood clots in the heart that can travel and cause strokes or block flow to other critical organs. In fact, people with this condition are five times more likely to have a stroke compared to others. It can also lead to heart failure. But finding and treating AFib early on can help you avoid these problems.

It is important for every individual to be well-trained in the CPR techniques that comprise chest compressions and rescue breaths. Being trained in the techniques can help in efficiently handling cardiac emergencies in out-of-hospital cases. To undergo CPR training Nashville, you can sign up for a program at the AHA certified CPR Nashville where training is conducted through a series of audio and video lectures and hands-on practice. Go through the course curriculum prior to enrolling for a program as there are courses for both healthcare as well as non-healthcare providers.

Types of AFib:

Paroxysmal: Comes and goes and generally stops on its own.

Persistent: Lasts more than a week and can become permanent.

Permanent: The heart’s normal rhythm can’t be restored.

Risks for AFib:

AFib is more likely for you:

1.      Older age, although it can happen at any age

2.      Conditions that place added strain on the heart, including:

a.      high blood pressure

b.      previous heart attack

c.       heart surgery

d.      valve disease

3.      Other illnesses such as obesity, sleep apnea or hyperthyroidism

4.      Family history  

5.      Drinking too much alcohol (routinely having 3 or more drinks a day or binge drinking)

Common AFib Triggers:

1.      Infections

2.      Drinking too much alcohol

3.      Caffeine, which can increase your heart rate and spark an AFib episode in some individuals

4.      Skipping doses of medications aimed to control AFib

5.      Smoking or taking stimulants

Symptoms of AFib:

People with AFib may or may not have symptoms, those who do report:

1.      Heart palpitation -- a thumping or racing heart, fluttering or skipping beats

2.      Feeling unusually tired or fatigued

3.      Unexplained shortness of breath

4.      Dizziness or fainting spells

5.      Chest pain (angina)

Medications

Medications are used to prevent clots from forming or to dissolve an existing clot and restore the normal rate or rhythm. 

Medications to prevent or treat blood clots and stroke include:

1.      Aspirin

2.      Blood thinners/anticoagulants such as warfarin, dabigitran, rivaroxaban and apixaban

Medical procedures

Electrical cardioversion – uses low-voltage electrical shock applied to the chest with paddles to restore a normal rhythm.

Catheter-based ablation – to fix the faulty electrical signals, a tube is inserted into a vein in the leg and threaded to the heart.

Surgical maze – small scar lines are made on the heart, creating a “maze” to prevent or redirect the abnormal beats from controlling the heart which is done through open heart surgery.

Pacemakers or atrial defibrillators – implantable devices that help restore and maintain regular rhythm.

Sign up for a program today and contribute towards the safety of victims involved in cardiac emergencies. For more information, contact CPR Nashville on 615-397-9316.

Renew your ACLS Card with Nashville ACLS Renewal Program

It is extremely important for healthcare providers to be well-trained in all the vital life-saving procedures with CPR training being the most vital one. The CPR techniques comprise chest compressions and rescue breaths. Proper application of the techniques can restore the life of a victim who has suffered a cardiac arrest or heart attack. 

A healthcare provider is most likely to face a cardiac emergency scenario more number of times compared to any other professional which highlights the significance of a CPR program on the part of healthcare providers. If you reside in Nashville and looking to obtain CPR training, look no further than CPR Nashville which is an American Heart Association accredited training site. The courses for the healthcare providers include Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support. There are courses for the general public as well. Our focus today is going to be on ACLS and ACLS renewal Nashville programs. 

Advanced Cardiac Life Support Classes- Advanced Cardiac Life Support is a course that is required for most healthcare professionals that work in acute care areas of a hospital or other healthcare industries that provide sedation and outpatient procedures.

Such acute care areas include, but are not limited to:

        I.            Emergency department

      II.            Intensive Care Unit

    III.            Operating Room

    IV.            Telemetry Units

      V.            EMS/Fire Departments

    VI.            Surgery Centers, etc.

Professionals who attend first time ACLS training are physicians, registered nurses, new nursing graduates, paramedics, CRNAs, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, anesthesiologists, dentists, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, and any other healthcare professional whose employer requires this certification for their staff. Taking an ACLS class is a great way to expand one’s knowledge of treating cardiovascular emergencies. It is also a great addition to your resume!

Healthcare providers will master the skills necessary to manage peri-arrest, cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest, and immediate post cardiac arrest patients. In small groups, students will be presented with several case-based scenarios. Working through these cases, students will rotate through different roles and learn to work as a team.

The course fee is $297.

ACLS Renewal Program- The Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) recertification class can be taken by any provider who has already successfully completed the initial ACLS course. During the renewal class, students will review key changes made by American Heart Association to their guidelines for treating cardiovascular and respiratory emergencies. Students will also receive a guided review of the algorithms, electrical therapies, pharmacology, and team dynamics.

The program fee is $199.

Join a class now and gain the benefits. Become certified after the completion of a program after passing a written exam and skills test successfully.

For more information or for registration, call CPR Nashville on 615-397-9316.