St John hopes CPR training will increase cardiac arrest survival rate

Hato Hone St John hopes to train 10,000 people around the country this month in CPR with the aim of increasing the survival rate of those who have cardiac arrests.

Cardiac arrest is one of the main causes of death in New Zealand with more than 2000 people treated per year.

Only 11 percent – or one in 10 people who have a cardiac arrest – survive.

But Hato Hone St John says if more people knew how to perform CPR, the survival rate could be improved.

This October, the not-for-profit launched the campaign 3 Steps for Life, which aims to train 10,000 people around the country in performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, knowing as CPR.

Jon Black, 41, had his first cardiac arrest back in February.

It was just an ordinary evening when he started to feel unwell.

“I went to go fetch the fan and by the time I brought it back I ended up getting these sort of chest pains and that’s when I sort of sat on the edge of the bed.

“I was holding my chest a bit and there was a really strange unfamiliar pain that I was feeling,” Black said.

It didn’t take long for the ambulance to arrive, he said.

“Once they plugged me in with everything and they printed out the little reading, then calmly they said ‘yeah, you’re sort of basically having a heart attack’. And obviously I freaked out.

“I can still remember, I said a few swear words, I was like ‘oh my goodness. I can’t believe this is happening’,” Black said.

Hato Hone St John clinical director Tony Smith.
Photo: RNZ/ Marika Khabazi

During the month of October, Hato Hone St John will be training 10,000 people around the country on how to respond to a cardiac arrest and perform CPR while waiting for an ambulance.

Clinical director Dr Tony Smith said the chances of survival are dramatically improved when a patient receives early CPR and defibrillation.

“Only about 10 percent will survive but we can double that 10 percent to around 20 percent through 3 simple steps: calling 111, starting CPR and finding the nearest AED or defibrillator.”

The training can help relieve the stress under a real-life incident, Smith said.

“We recognise that when someone has a cardiac arrest it can be really stressful, but the training keeps it really simple.

“We teach: 30 to 2, no matter who. It’s 30 compressions, 30 pushes on the chest and two blows on the mouth. It sounds complicated but it’s actually really easy.”

Community educator Mia Noyes is one of the volunteers who will be teaching people how to save lives.

She recently had to perform CPR in a real-life incident and said people should always be ready.

“I felt that rush of adrenaline and that sense of urgency to help save someone’s life.

“As soon as I got there, I thought it would be a good idea to take a deep breath and just prepare myself for what I’m about to get into.”

For Jon Black, lending a hand in instances like this isn’t just important, it could be lifesaving.

“Having a cardiac arrest or having a heart attack it’s not something you’re going to plan for. If you got family members that can do first aid courses for example, it’s well worth it.

“If someone had to go through what I went through, you know, if you got a family member or friend that are with you, that knows what they’re doing, it could definitely save your life.”

Anyone can book a CPR training through [https://www.stjohn.org.nz/contact-us/other/three-steps-for-life-enquiry/

St John’s website] or attend one of the group sessions that will be held all over the country until the end of the month.