How many times have we tuned into popular television shows and watched as our favorite actors bring back to life victims on the brink of death following cardiac arrest?
How many of you have seriously considered what you would do if someone close to you suddenly collapsed and was unable to breathe?
Sadly, most bystanders don’t do anything because they don’t know how to initiate CPR – cardio-pulmonary resuscitation – or are afraid they’ll do something wrong.
An Institute of Medicine report states that hundreds of thousands of people die from cardiac arrest annually but the survival rate could be greatly increased if only more people learned CPR.
“I wanted to become a CPR instructor and train as many people as possible because one life lost to sudden cardiac arrest is one too many.” said Bob Kanner, a certified American Heart Association CPR/AED instructor and former District Fire Commissioner between 1994 and 2002. “Learning CPR can save thousands of lives by having more lifesavers in our community able to give cardiac-arrest victims the immediate help they need to survive until medical help arrives,” he said. 
Kanner, who first became certified over 28 years ago in New York, explained that after only a few seconds of a person being unable to breathe, irreversible brain damage begins and gradually progresses unless someone acts quickly and expertly.
“Once the heart stops beating, brain death can occur in a mere 4 to 6 minutes,” said Kanner. “If someone can administer CPR within the first 4 minutes, then the chances of survival more than double,” he said.
Sudden cardiac arrest onset happens when an electrical rhythm problem occurs and the heart is no longer able to pump blood effectively to the rest of the body.
Anybody could suddenly collapse, lose consciousness, and stop breathing and any bystander who knows CPR or an AED procedure can make a difference between life and death.
Dr. Adel Eldin, a local interventional cardiologist in Brooksville, said that learning just basic skills that could save lives is important for everyone to learn.
“I have seen the teamwork of bystanders initiating basic life support and keeping patients alive while waiting for help from healthcare professionals,” he said. “Saving lives that would not have been saved otherwise.”
“CPR is easy and fun to learn,” said Kanner, “and I strive to make my classes as enjoyable as possible,” said Kanner. “A student who enjoys a class will learn much more than just being there because they have to,” he added.
Kanner himself has to go through American Heart Training every two years in order to be able to instruct his classes. He prefers to keeps his classes small – about 6 to 8 persons at a time.
“That way, it’s a more comfortable atmosphere and easier for my students to focus on the techniques of CPR and AED,” he said.
The CPR classes are held in the Enrichment Center in the Medical Arts Building of the Bayfront Health Brooksville Hospital – formerly the Brooksville Regional Hospital on Cortez Boulevard.
Enrichment Center Director Debbie Druzbick said, “We are proud to have Bob as an instructor and to be able to offer this class.” Not only is this class vital to the healthcare professional, it is just as important for everyone else.” The knowledge that you take with you by attending this class might just save someone’s life,” said Druzbick.
Although classes are designed primarily for healthcare professionals, any individual is welcome to attend. Each class takes approximately 4 hours to complete and about 2 to 3 hours for a Heartsaver® AED class.
Attendees at Kanner’s classes include paramedics, nurses, firefighters, nurses’ aides, occupational therapists, home health aides and teachers.
“I’ve also trained all the 911 dispatchers at the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office,” Kanner said.
The class is a video-based, hands-on, instructor-led course that teaches the critical skills and knowledge needed to manage a sudden cardiac arrest emergency or a choking victim in the first few moments until emergency medical services arrive on the scene.
There is a demonstration of how to use an AED (Artificial Electronic Defibrillator) and for the hands-on segment of the class, Kanner distributes his “props” including mannequins, sterile gloves, wet wipes and mouth shields. He instructs how to intertwine your hands and where to place them on the mannequin to get maximum compression. The students then practice the breathing and compression sequences. 
“The mannequins I use are sanitized after each class and are lower chest up to and including the head,” said Kanner. “Every student has their own mannequin to practice on,” he said.
Kanner also demonstrated how to relieve choking on adults and babies using the abdominal thrust method.
The six students at a class held Thursday, April 28 had enrolled to renew their American Heart Association course completion cards. Course completion cards, required by most healthcare employers, are valid for two years. The cards can also be verified on the American Heart Association website.
AJ Atienza, 38, an occupational therapist at HealthSouth said she had come from Land O’ Lakes to attend the class as she needed re-certification for her employment.
Another attendee was Sha’Niqua King, 24, from Spring Hill.
“My course completion card is about to expire so I’m attending to get it renewed tonight. I need it for my job as a home health aide,” she said.
After the practicing session, everyone takes a 25 question multiple choice exam. All questions must be answered correctly before they can earn a certificate. All six passed with flying colors.
Kanner said that learning CPR can be empowering and much more than just satisfying employment requirements. He added that often people are concerned that they might do something wrong and face legal repercussions.
“If someone performs CPR and they are not certified, then they are covered by the Good Samaritan Law,” he said.
“The law is intended to reduce bystanders’ reluctance to assist for fear of being sued, he said. “You cannot be sued for wrongdoing.”
“Whether at work, home, school or church, someone you know might need those CPR lifesaving skills,” said Kanner. “I encourage everyone, not just healthcare professions, to learn CPR.”
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IF YOU GO
WHERE: Brooksville Enrichment Center at Bayfront Health Hospital, Medical Arts Bldg, Room 120
WHEN: Every second and fourth Thursday of the month from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
This class is designed for professional healthcare providers and meets the guide lines of the American Heart Association. Non healthcare professionals are welcome to attend. Part of proceeds are donated to the Enrichment Center. Cost is $25.
RESERVATION REQUIRED: Call Bob Kanner at 352-597-8875.
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Sue Quigley can be reached at 727-808-9587 or via email at saffronbleu@hotmail.com. Contact her if you would like your business featured in The Hernando Sun.