Ready to learn more about CPR? #SouthernHearts had a Twitter chat just for you
Published: Jun 8, 2017By Lisa Greene
Every year in the U.S., somewhere between 325,000 and 600,000 hearts stop beating.
But if someone witnesses this event and starts CPR, they can double or even triple the chances of survival.
What if this happened to your friend or loved one? Would you be ready to help?
That's why this is the most important thing to do about CPR: anyone can do it.
On Wednesday, chapters of the American Heart Association all over the Southeast joined forces for the #SouthernHearts Twitter chat. @TGHCares participated as well, offering the expertise of Dr. Benjamin Mackie, cardiologist with Tampa General Medical Group.
Here are the highlights:
Our CPR #TwitterChat gets going in 1 hour! Follow #SouthernHearts to learn more about this lifesaving skill. #CPRSavesLives #HeartHealthyTB pic.twitter.com/WG5TmXW5ke
— American Heart Assoc (@HeartTampaBay) June 7, 2017
Learn more about #CPR: Join us at 1 p.m. for the #SouthernHearts chat @HeartTampaBay @10NewsWTSP @StPeteFL @HillsFireRescue @American_Heart pic.twitter.com/9o3ikfzYxe
— TampaGeneralHospital (@TGHCares) June 7, 2017
Thanks for joining our chat, #SouthernHearts! We’re excited to welcome our local host, @10NewsWTSP @JackieFernTV! pic.twitter.com/uUZPI6oh6k
— American Heart Assoc (@HeartTampaBay) June 7, 2017
Q1. First things first #SouthernHearts:
- Make up a superhero name
- Share a super power you wish you had
- Pick one: Cape or Spandex! pic.twitter.com/ovxoE8ksQc— Jackie Fernandez (@JackieFernTV) June 7, 2017
A1. Everyone who performs CPR is a superhero. Today, ours is Dr. Ben Mackie, cardiologist w/ Tampa General Medical Group. #SouthernHearts pic.twitter.com/BZd3yBTZSw
— TampaGeneralHospital (@TGHCares) June 7, 2017
A1: We're in both! Spandex and capes! Our superhero power is to save lives through education! #SouthernHearts pic.twitter.com/egXwGWNLss
— Power Design, Inc. (@PowerDesignInc) June 7, 2017
A1: Our superhero name is CardioMedic.. We have X-ray vision to see hearts. we prefer Spandex because it won’t block our superhero stuff! https://t.co/8LznmTEgJv
— Hillsborough County (@HillsFireRescue) June 7, 2017
Q2: Now that we’re fully in character... What exactly is CPR? #SouthernHearts
— Jackie Fernandez (@JackieFernTV) June 7, 2017
A2. CPR is the best chance of survival for anyone whose heart has stopped beating, says Dr. Ben Mackie. #SouthernHearts pic.twitter.com/owFnRRsPQy
— TampaGeneralHospital (@TGHCares) June 7, 2017
A2. CPR = cardiopulmonary resuscitation, external compressions on a patient's chest to maintain blood flow through the body. #SouthernHearts pic.twitter.com/V1zLFlvKjJ
— TampaGeneralHospital (@TGHCares) June 7, 2017
A2. Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation. It is a way of manually
activating the pump system of the heart #SouthernHearts pic.twitter.com/4fvUdKcCd9— St Pete Fire Rescue (@StPeteFR) June 7, 2017
Q3: Sounds amazing, but is CPR something that anyone can do?! #SouthernHearts https://t.co/NeCsTfkiqH
— Jackie Fernandez (@JackieFernTV) June 7, 2017
A3. Yes, absolutely! CPR training is great, but untrained bystanders can & do save lives by performing CPR, says Dr. Mackie #SouthernHearts pic.twitter.com/pSAYLJ9x8x
— TampaGeneralHospital (@TGHCares) June 7, 2017
A3: Absolutely! Everyone can learn! Just check out all of our employees learning how to perform CPR! #SouthernHearts pic.twitter.com/SdUr80aQaa
— Power Design, Inc. (@PowerDesignInc) June 7, 2017
Q4: When should CPR be performed on other #SouthernHearts?
— Jackie Fernandez (@JackieFernTV) June 7, 2017
A4. If you see someone collapse, it’s time to think CPR, says Dr. Mackie. Questions? Watch: https://t.co/4KHICuOtTD #SouthernHearts pic.twitter.com/7neMnbwOAD
— TampaGeneralHospital (@TGHCares) June 7, 2017
Our hands can do many things. Most importantly, our hands can help save lives. Learn hands-only CPR: https://t.co/fUyxV12HQL #SouthernHearts pic.twitter.com/KZKlBF0c1x
— American Heart Assoc (@AHAMetroJackson) June 7, 2017
A4: For drowning incidents, perform full CPR - breaths with compressions. Find a course near you: https://t.co/8uNdK3yVtA #SouthernHearts
— American Heart Assoc (@HeartTampaBay) June 7, 2017
Here's Question #5:
#SouthernHearts, should we perform CPR if we’re not certified? Or is it better to wait for a professional?
— Jackie Fernandez (@JackieFernTV) June 7, 2017
A5. Never wait, says Dr. Mackie. Call 911 and start CPR. 911 dispatchers can coach you if needed. #SouthernHearts pic.twitter.com/C5RSkGZu8b
— TampaGeneralHospital (@TGHCares) June 7, 2017
A5. It’s so important we’ll say it twice: Don’t wait to start CPR. Every minute lost lessens chances of survival. #SouthernHearts pic.twitter.com/ty7bP5aaJO
— TampaGeneralHospital (@TGHCares) June 7, 2017
A5: While we want everyone to be fully certified, #SouthernHearts can get trained in Hands-Only CPR in 60 seconds! https://t.co/8pW0lgwBhu pic.twitter.com/Bx1UYePVzD
— American Heart Assoc (@HeartTampaBay) June 7, 2017
Here's question #6:
How do you make sure you don't hurt someone when performing CPR? #Southernhearts #cprsaveslives pic.twitter.com/6cA52nsWk2
— Jackie Fernandez (@JackieFernTV) June 7, 2017
A6. Don’t worry about hurting someone, says Dr. Mackie. CPR’s life-saving benefits dramatically outweigh any risk of injury. #SouthernHearts pic.twitter.com/ADd2TryeUF
— TampaGeneralHospital (@TGHCares) June 7, 2017
A6: you "may" crack a rib or two, but ribs heal. Hearts in cardiac arrest do not fix themselves. Press on that sternum baby! #southernhearts
— Bill Petrie (@billpetrie) June 7, 2017
#Truth! https://t.co/TQLnMnelIa
— Hillsborough County (@HillsFireRescue) June 7, 2017
A6. If you perform bystander CPR U R protected by the Good Samaritan law. Don't hesitate to call 911 + start compressions! #SouthernHearts pic.twitter.com/GR9DtytQ4P
— American Heart Assoc (@HeartTampaBay) June 7, 2017
Question #6, part two: How do I know if I'm performing CPR correctly?
A6. Don’t worry if you’re doing CPR right, says Dr. Mackie. Just do it. Push in time to the song “Stayin’ Alive.” #SouthernHearts pic.twitter.com/fJi8pQApZt
— TampaGeneralHospital (@TGHCares) June 7, 2017
A6. Also, for bystander CPR, you don’t have to give any breaths to the patient, notes Dr. Mackie. #SouthernHearts
— TampaGeneralHospital (@TGHCares) June 7, 2017
Question #7:
You perform CPR when someone has a cardiac arrest. Then, what do you do? #SoutherHearts
— Jackie Fernandez (@JackieFernTV) June 7, 2017
A7. While you’re doing CPR, ask somebody to find an AED, says Dr. Mackie. Keep doing CPR until EMS arrives. #SouthernHearts pic.twitter.com/RKi3nGlE4d
— TampaGeneralHospital (@TGHCares) June 7, 2017
A7: Keep up the CPR until emergency responders arrive! #SouthernHearts pic.twitter.com/U73h5UZMsC
— St. Petersburg, FL (@StPeteFL) June 7, 2017
A7: Keep doing CPR until help arrives! If you are with a group/another person, switch when you get tired until help arrives! #southernhearts pic.twitter.com/vuB6EgA97O
— Flo Nightingale (@AskFloRN) June 7, 2017
We this - it's the top of the charts! https://t.co/LkfWGGI4dr
— TampaGeneralHospital (@TGHCares) June 7, 2017
A7. Don't stop compressions (100-120 per minute, to the beat of one of the below songs!) until EMS arrives. #SouthernHearts pic.twitter.com/o0MsVc8dqw
— American Heart Assoc (@HeartTampaBay) June 7, 2017
A7: Keep working until backup arrives. Paramedics have stronger superpowers and transport them to the Hospital. #SouthernHearts pic.twitter.com/LhKEEK1q9m
— Hillsborough County (@HillsFireRescue) June 7, 2017
Question 8:
Alright, I know you're wondering WHERE can you learn how to do CPR? And how often do you need practice? #SouthernHearts
— Jackie Fernandez (@JackieFernTV) June 7, 2017
A8. To find a CPR course near you, check out @American_Heart: https://t.co/MBw6vpGwwA #SouthernHearts
— TampaGeneralHospital (@TGHCares) June 7, 2017
A8. You can also find TGH infant and child #CPR classes on our calendar: https://t.co/slCOJWWL0s #SouthernHearts
— TampaGeneralHospital (@TGHCares) June 7, 2017
A8: Remember the beat to Staying Alive! #SouthernHearts pic.twitter.com/2Dhbn8jTNg
— AHA NOLA (@HeartNOLA) June 7, 2017
Question 9:
Time 2 commit #SouthernHearts! Place your ✋ over your ❤ & feel it beat. Will you now perform Hands-Only CPR if another's heart is in need?
— Jackie Fernandez (@JackieFernTV) June 7, 2017
A9. We hope everyone will perform #CPR if they see someone in need! #SouthernHearts pic.twitter.com/HEWUtPceLv
— TampaGeneralHospital (@TGHCares) June 7, 2017
Special thanks to cardiologist Dr. Ben Mackie & @HeartTampaBay for joining us today! #SouthernHearts
— TampaGeneralHospital (@TGHCares) June 7, 2017