Shocking....World War II: Loss of Life Visualized (2015)

We all know that true preparedness is being prepared for anysituation. While 911 and the ambulance are just a phone call away, there may come a time when these services aren’t available. Then what will you do? This is why medical preparedness is so important, even though it’s often overlooked.

To face an emergency situation without fear, you have to equip yourself with supplies beforehand. Practicing medical preparedness by stocking up on supplies in case a family member needs medical treatment is the responsible and smart thing to do.
Medical Preparedness: Treating a Wound

You will also need to learn the proper procedures to treat wounds, broken bones, and other ailments in case you or someone in your family is faced with such an injury.

Even minor injuries can become much more serious if not properly treated. Medical preparedness is one of the most important things you can learn to ensure your own and your family’s survival.

For the full post click here.

Medical Supplies, Part 4: Open/Bleeding Wounds

The injury that most non-professionals are most fearful of is the open, often bleeding, wound. With the right supplies, however, even heavy bleeding can be staunched successfully. A discussion of the procedure for stopping hemorrhage in a wound can be found in some of our other articles; this article will talk specifically about items to stockpile in your medical storage.

Don’t downplay the importance of taking first responder classes. Even though they teach you how to stabilize and transport a patient rather than how to deal with the issue from beginning to end (as would be necessary in a survival setting), they are highly valuable. Many are offered regularly by your local municipality. Consider volunteering at your local ER to desensitize yourself to bleeding and fractures. There’s a paralysis of sorts that affects people who aren’t used to seeing bleeding or broken bones; with many wounds, precious time (and blood) could be lost if action isn’t taken quickly.

Supplies To Stop Bleeding

Besides knowledge, the well-prepared medic will have:

Gauze: Bulk non-sterile gauze (some of our kits carry bricks of 200 at a time) is valuable as a medical storage item to apply pressure to bleeding areas. Even one hemorrhagic wound could require you to use all the dressings that you had accumulated over years of stockpiling.

Dressings come in squares of varying sizes, roller bandages to wrap around the area, and highly-absorbent pads of various sizes (not technically “gauze”). Carry a variety to increase the versatility of use. Although I recommend storing tampons, it is more for its traditional use than to treat gunshot injuries, which vary in size (especially exit wounds). A tampon would not always be the right size for the cavity created by the missile; they are best used for nose bleeds combined with compression. Maxi-Pads are excellent items for your medical storage, however.

via Medical Supplies, Part 4: Open/Bleeding Wounds | Doom and Bloom (TM).

When basic medical treatment is carried out immediately, the injury won’t lead to a more serious condition. Infection can be reduced and pain can be managed to a certain degree. The patient can be relieved and comforted and eventually heal — but only if you take medical preparedness seriously, and begin to prepare now.

Medical preparedness is extremely important not only because you can help others in an emergency, but because you may need these supplies yourself at some point.

If you’re committed to medical preparedness and have stored up the proper supplies, you can treat almost any ailment or injury. For example, a deep open wound can be cleaned and sutured rapidly because of the instant availability of supplies.

Never underestimate the idea of medical preparedness because it is through this behavior that many lives can be saved. Medical treatment may be the job of a professional health worker, but in the case of catastrophic situation, there’s no one to rely on but yourself.

How a Bra and a Tampon Could Save Your Life in a Survival Situation

Quick: What’s the first thing you think of when you hear, “survival item”? It’s probably not a bra or a tampon. But those two items are exactly what Outside magazine says could save your life.

In a slideshow on the outlet’s website, they name eight household items you may never thought of that could save your life.

“Innovation may very well be the most important survival skill,” Creek Stewart, a survivalist and host of the show “Fat Guys in the Woods,” told the magazine.

Besides a bra (which can work as a debris mask) and a tampon (which includes cotton that can stay dry and work as kindling), a AA battery and some chewing gum wrappers can start a fire, while a can of tuna can work as a candle. Below are four of our favorites, along with some explainers from the magazine.

Bra

“Believe it or not, the cup of a bra can make an impressive debris mask in a pinch,” Stewart says. Most are sized perfectly to cover the nose and mouth, and the straps can be reworked to tie around the head for hands-free use.

Tampon

Thankfully, Stewart says tampons are among the best tinder on the planet. Begin by removing the cotton plug from its waterproof wrapper and plastic applicator. Then pull apart the tampon to expose the highly-flammable individual fibers—these will burst into flame with just a spark from a ferro rod or cigarette lighter.

Tuna

Stab a small hole in the top of an oil-packed tuna can, then roll a two-by-five inch piece of newspaper into a wick. Shove the wick into the hole, leaving a half-inch exposed. Wait a moment for the oil to soak to the top of the wick, then light with matches. “Your new oil lamp will burn for almost two hours,” Stewart says, “and the tuna will still be good to eat afterward.”

Chapstick

Take the cotton string from a tampon and, using a paperclip, stick it into a tube of lip-balm. Light the end, and you’ll get an instant candle that can burn for about two hours. Keep the plastic tube from catching fire by slowly twisting out the lip balm as the wick burns down.

Getting and Storing Water: Understanding the Basics

Water is the most basic element of life and survival. When a disaster occurs, if you find yourself without access to water, you will not survive for long. There truly is nothing more important to your survival.

So how do you prepare for such an event? How do you make sure that you have enough water to survive if a disaster occurs and cuts off access to your water source? Storing large quantities of water can be challenging, and many people — even seasoned preppers — don’t store enough to last them very long if and when a disaster takes place.

Prepping expert Gaye Levy from backdoorsurvival.com has some great tips on storing water in the case of an emergency, as well as finding water when bugging out or other situations where water isn’t readily available. Read her tips below, and be sure to check out her website for more great prepping survival information.

During a recent book giveaway, the question asked was “What piece of prepping gear is at the top of your bucket list?”  Needless to say, I was more than a little bit surprised to find that the top response was water storage, water filters, and water purification equipment.

While having the gear is nice, anyone interested in preparedness also needs to have a basic understanding of the concepts behind water and water storage.  Where to find, store, purify, and filter water are all questions that need to be asked, answered, and periodically reviewed.

And why do I know that?  A couple of months ago I was personally without running water for 12 days.  Being up to speed on the do’s and don’t of water were key to my getting by just fine during this period.

With that in mind, today I share an article on water as a survival basic.

Back to the Basics: Water for Survival

When I first started Backdoor Survival, my focus was on gathering the basics: food, water, shelter and fire. Of course, along the way I have learned that there is so much more that is essential to long term survival. Things that come to mind are clean air, clothing, first aid, self-defense, signaling and a community with others.

But today I want to keep things simple and, for the benefit of my newer readers, go back the basics and review the essentials of water for survival.

Water is the Most Important Survival Basic

Clean water is something that we all take for granted. We turn on the faucet and there it is. It is plentiful, it is clean and it is drinkable. Yes, it may have some undesirable chemical additions such a fluorides, but for the most part, having clean, drinkable water is something we have come to rely upon.

The bottom line is that if a disaster occurred and the supply lines to fresh water were comprised, we would be in a pickle. There is a possibility that safe water would not be available for days and possibly not for weeks.

The rule of thumb propagated by FEMA and just about every other authority out there is that you store at least one gallon of water per person and pet, per day, for a minimum of three days. But if you think that a three day water supply is adequate, think again.

A more reasonable recommendation is that you up the recommended amount of stored water to a two week supply. So for two people that would be 2 people x 1 gallon x 14 days = 28 gallons. This amount should cover your minimal needs for drinking, food preparation and nominal, and I mean nominal, hygiene.

DIY Water Storage

Storing water for an emergency can be as simple as filling thoroughly washed plastic or glass containers with tap water and sealing them tightly. This is something that anyone can do without incurring a cost so long as few simple rules are followed.

Here are the steps to can take to store water for emergency use:

1. Thoroughly clean your plastic bottle and jugs with dishwashing soap and water then rinse completely so there is no residual soap.

2. Sanitize your bottles by adding a solution of 1 teaspoon of un-scented liquid household chlorine bleach to a quart of water. Swish the sanitizing solution in the containers so that it touches all interior surfaces. Don’t forget to sanitize the lids and caps as well. After sanitizing the containers and caps, thoroughly rinse out the bleach solution with clean water.

Note:  Bleach has an effective shelf-life of one year.  Make sure that the bleach you are using is fresh.

3. Fill the sanitized containers to the top with regular tap water. Add two drops of non-scented liquid household chlorine bleach to the water, then tightly close the containers using the original caps. It is probably a good idea to use some latex or nitrile gloves at this point so that you maintain the sanitation and do not contaminate the caps by touching the inside of them with your fingers.

4. Date the outside with a permanent marker such as a Sharpie.

5. Store in a cool, dark place.

6. As a precaution, rotate in six months to a year. Dump the water, re-sanitize the jugs, and start all over. Or, if you have the space, mark the jugs as “non-potable” and save the water for non-drinking emergency purposes.

Personally, I think it would be a good idea to put up a few jugs at the first of each month. Do this for six months and you will build up a nice, rotating stock.

Plastic soda bottles or juice jugs work well for DIY water storage.  On the other hand, milk jugs should not be used for water storage.  Milk and protein sugars are difficult to remove and will compromise the stored water because they create an environment for bacteria growth.  In addition, milk jugs are flimsy and will not hold up, even for a short period of time. Ditto cardboard. The cardboard will eventually leak and make a big mess. Glass is okay but be aware that glass is heavy and subject to breakage.

Water stored as described above will be good for at least six months to a year and possibly longer.  Let me be clear: you rotate water not because it has an “expiration date” but that it may become chemically or biologically contaminated and foul.  Why take a chance?

Technically, if water is stored in a cool, dark area and away from chemical and toxic fumes, it should last forever.

If the cleanliness of the the water is in question, it can be purified with purification tablets, fresh bleach, or a filtering system such as the Berkey or LifeStraw, among others.

If you have the space and the budget, you can also purchase food-grade plastic containers and drums designed for water storage. These containers typically hold up to 55 gallons of water and with the addition of proper purification chemicals, will keep the water safe for up to five years.

I personally have a 55 gallon water storage system. It was easy to set up and it came outfitted as a complete kit with all of the various tools and siphons I will need if/when that emergency situation occurs.

Another alternative, of course, is bottled water. The same rule applies: store in a cool, dark area and periodically rotate just to be on the safe side.

Hidden Sources of Water

In addition to tap water, there are other hidden sources of water that you can use when a disaster occurs. These sources include the water in your hot water heater, pipes, and even the ice cubes from the icemaker in your refrigerator or freezer. Before tapping in to these sources, however, you will first need to shut off the main valve coming in to your home so that you do not contaminate the ”good” water with the “bad”.

Here are some specific instructions for using the water in your hot water tank:

• Turn off the electricity or gas.
• Open the drain at the bottom of the tank.
• Start the water flowing by turning off the water intake valve at the tank and turning on a hot-water faucet.
• And don’t forget: be sure to refill the tank before turning the gas or electricity back on.

Outdoor Sources of Water

Barring the use of stored water or the hidden water sources in your home, there is always the outdoors. Water may be available from rainwater, streams, ponds, lakes and natural streams. Absolutely stay away from flood water since it is likely to contain sewage and other nasties that you do not even want to think about.

When using outdoor sources of water, you are going to have to undertake purification measures to make it safe. There are many ways to purify water, some better than others and some easier than others.

Water Purification

For ad hoc water purification, nothing beats plain old bleach as long as it is fresh (no more than a year old) and unscented.

According to the Clorox website: When boiling off water for 1 minute is not possible in an emergency situation, you can disinfect your drinking water with Clorox® Regular-Bleach as follows:

1. Remove suspended particles by filtering or letting particles settle to the bottom.

2. Pour off clear water into a clean container.

3. Add 8 drops of Clorox® Regular-Bleach (not scented or Clorox® Plus®bleaches) to one gallon of water (2 drops to 1 quart). For cloudy water, use 16 drops per gallon of water (4 drops to 1 quart).

Boiling water is considered the safest method of purifying water. What you do is bring water to a rolling boil for three to five minutes. The water may not taste that great but it will be safe to drink.

Factoid: To improve the taste of boiled or stored water, you can put some oxygen back in to the water by pouring it back and forth between two containers.

As an alternative to bleach or boiling water, the EPA has guidelines for using calcium hypochlorite, commonly sold as “pool shock” to disinfect water:

Add and dissolve one heaping teaspoon of high-test granular calcium hypochlorite (approximately ¼ ounce) for each two gallons of water, or 5 milliliters (approximately 7 grams) per 7.5 liters of water.

The mixture will produce a stock chlorine solution of approximately 500 milligrams per liter, since the calcium hypochlorite has available chlorine equal to 70 percent of its weight. To disinfect water, add the chlorine solution in the ratio of one part of chlorine solution to each 100 parts of water to be treated.

This is roughly equal to adding 1 pint (16 ounces) of stock chlorine to each 12.5 gallons of water or (approximately ½ liter to 50 liters of water) to be disinfected. To remove any objectionable chlorine odor, aerate the disinfected water by pouring it back and forth from one clean container to another.

Tip:  For more precise (and in my opinion better) instructions, visit the article How to Use Pool Shock to Purify Water.  In this article, I go into great detail describing plus showing you how to safely use Pool Shock for water purification purposes.

A good reference for this and other purification methods can be found in the downloadable and printable article Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water.

What About Water Filters?

The use of water filters to make raw water drinkable is another solution to the water for survival dilemma. The nice thing about a filtration system is that it will not only supplement your stored water, but will provide you with great tasting, chemical free drinking water for day to day.

I personally have a Royal Berkey and to tell the truth, wonder what took me so long to discover this alternative to purchased water in bottles and a countertop Brita.

This is not to say that I don’t have bottled water because I do. After all, if I have to leave my home, it would be tough to drag along a 55 gallon water barrel or a Berkey. But for day to day drinking as well as long term survival needs, you simply can not beat a quality filtration system.

Portable Water Filters

I have had good luck with the LifeStraw Personal Water Filter. This lightweight and affordable filter is like an oversized straw. You can use it with a cup or dip it directly into a pond or stream. There are other portable water filtering systems as well and these are handy to keep in your emergency backpack, your car or your travel kit.

5 Freeze Dried Food Recipes You Will Want To Make At Home

The popularity of freeze dried food is rising. It is considered invaluable amongst many from preparedness-minded groups to highly active health foodies. When stored properly, such as in our Mylar bags or #10 cans, freeze dried food can last up to 25 years for long term food storage! It is highly portable, being extremely lightweight, and only requires re-hydration to consume, no cooking required! Best of all, freeze dried food retains nearly all of its original nutrition, flavor, and texture prior to preparation- making it ideal for a delicious and healthy snack (no compromising!) for when you’re on-the-go.

We at NuHarvest Foods hope you feel just as happy about freeze dried food as we do, but if you are still unsure, we have included a list of 5 great freeze dried food recipes that we believe will have you convinced- simply try them for yourself at home!

Freeze Dried Trail Mix

• 1 cup freeze dried Strawberries
• 1 cup freeze dried Pineapples
• 1 cup freeze dried Apples
• 1 cup salted sunflower seeds, shelled
• 1 cup salted almonds, roasted
• 1 cup cashews
• 1 cup raisins

Directions:

Simply combine all ingredients together. Fruits and nuts can be interchanged to fit your tastes. Great for packing up for long or short trips and easy to store. (9 servings)

Freeze Dried Salsa

• 3 cups freeze dried Tomato Dices
• ½ cup freeze dried Corn
• ½ cup freeze dried green chili peppers
• ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• ¼ cup freeze dried Red Peppers
• ¼ cup freeze dried Onions
• 1 ¼ Tbsp lime juice
• ½ Tsp cumin
• ¼ Tsp salt

Directions:

Combine freeze dried ingredients and rehydrate according to package directions, adding lime juice. Add cilantro, cumin, and salt and mix all ingredients well, stirring for 30 seconds. Refrigerate 3 hours before serving. (6 servings)

Freeze Dried Chicken Waldorf Salad

• 2 cups freeze dried Chicken Dices
• 1 cup freeze dried Apples
• ½ cup freeze dried Celery, sliced
• 1/3 cup freeze dried cranberries, halved
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ¼ cup walnuts, roasted
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Combine chicken dices, apples, celery, and cranberries and rehydrate according to package directions. Drain (if any) additional liquids after re-hydration, and mix chicken mixture with mayonnaise and walnuts. Refrigerate 1 hour before serving, serve with lettuce as a salad or on a sandwich. (8 servings)

Freeze Dried Curry Chicken and Rice

• 3 1/2 cups instant brown rice
• (According to package) chicken broth
• 1 ¼ cup freeze dried Chicken Dices
• 1 ¼ cup freeze dried Vegetable Variety
• 1 ¼ cup cashews, roasted
• 4 Tbsp freeze dried Onion
• 2 ½ Tbsp curry powder
• 1 Tsp garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Combine chicken dices, vegetable variety, and onions and rehydrate according to package directions, substituting chicken broth for water. Cook brown rice according to package directions separately. Add spices and cashews. (5 servings)

Freeze Dried Raspberry Pie 

• 6 cups freeze dried Raspberries
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 Tbsp pectin
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1/8 Tsp cinnamon
• Premade pie crust plate
• Premade pie crust dough
• Whipped topping (optional)
• Vanilla ice cream (optional)

Directions:

Rehydrate blackberries according to package directions, drain. Combine with lemon juice. Add sugar, pectin, and cinnamon mixture. Mix ingredients well and pour into pie crust plate. Roll out premade pie crust dough and cut into 1 inch slices. Lay slices criss-cross over the filling, making a pattern. Bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes, or until crust is golden brown. Let cool and serve with dallop of whipped topping on top, or vanilla ice cream. (8 servings) 

Freeze dried food significantly cuts back on cook time and preparation. Save more time for you and your family to enjoy your delicious meals together. We invite you to give these recipes a try at home, and let us know how much you liked them!

7 Tips For Removing Snails and Slugs From Your Garden Naturally

You’ve invested a lot of time and effort in the planning and planting of your Heirloom Garden. After some time has passed you begin to notice, like many inexperienced Gardeners, that you have an infestation of snails and slugs reeking havoc in your garden. Trust me, ask any experience Gardener and they will tell you that this is common. For some strange reason snails and slugs seem to love your vegetables just as much as you (maybe even more). It may be the fact that it’s free and you’ve done all the work to bring it to their table. If you don’t get the snails and slugs under control (and in a hurry) you’re going to lose your garden real quick.

You could try using snail or slug pellets to kill the little buggers off. It’s all well and good, but why would you risk using chemicals in your organic or Heirloom Garden? If you do, aren’t you defeating the purpose of having a wholesome healthy garden in the first place? Now the question still remains, “How do you kill off the snail or slug infestation without harming your garden and your family’s health in the process? Well as a Permaculturist I’m here to tell you there are natural and “organic” ways to do it.

Over the last few years I’ve tested out a number of different ways to control snails and stop them from eating my vegetables and getting a free lunch. These tips differ in effectiveness and the effort required, but I have found all of them to have some positive impact one way or another. Try experimenting with these in your own garden and help to keep the snails and slugs at bay, without the need for chemicals.

Crushed Egg Shell

Experienced vegetable gardeners I know (including myself) use this technique and swear by it strongly & besides, you are adding a vital nutrient to your soil at the same time and that is calcium. Your Heirloom Tomato plants will benefit tremendously from, it and you’ll actually accomplish to things, (1) snail/slug control and (2) organic fertilizer. Now I must add here that you’ll wanna try and make sure your eggs are organic (if you can). Yes, many processed chicken eggs come from hormone produced chickens. So whenever you eat eggs, just take the discarded shells and crush them into a coarse substrate. I also feed my crushed eggs to my livestock as well. Sprinkle the crushed egg shells around the base of your sensitive vegetable plants. The reason for this method is quite simple, allegedly the snails hate the sensation of crawling over the egg shells and so will avoid your vegetable plants at all costs. It kinda of like walking on glass barefooted to them.

Diatomaceous

Diatomaceous earth is great solution for getting rid of snails. Just be sure to buy the non-toxic, food grade version. Gritty substances will cut the body of the snail, which will lead to it being injured. Diatomaceous earth is a type of powdered rock made from the fossils of tiny sea organisms. It has very fine, sharp edges which is harmful to the snails’ soft bodies. Diatomaceous earth can be sprinkled on the soil surrounding plants and flower beds. However, it becomes much less effective when wet, so a fresh layer will need to be reapplied after watering your plants or following rainfall.

Sand

Sharp sand can be used to make a harsh slug deterring barrier around tender plants. It also helps improve drainage in heavy clay soils. Builder’s sand and play sand are too soft to be effective.

Beer Traps

If you’d rather avoid using chemicals then beer traps may be the way. You can buy these in many garden centers though they’re just as easy to make yourself. Simply sink a waterproof container such as a jam jar into the soil and fill it with beer. The real cheap (beer), nasty stuff seems to work fine; snails aren’t fussy. Consider placing some kind of cover over the top. A slate or flat rock, resting on a couple of stones so that you local snails can crawl underneath will work wonders. The snails – who seem to love a drink – climb over the edge of the pot to drink the beer, then topple in and drown. The snails will be attracted to the smell of the beer and climb into the saucer/bucket, where they will become intoxicated by the alcohol, fall in and drown.

An alternative to using beer and wasting it on snails is you can also make similar traps using grape juice or water mixed with 1/2 teaspoon of yeast and a tablespoon of sugar. Every few weeks you just empty the stale beer or the grape juice/yeast recipe and the snail corpses before resetting it to go again, or better yet put the corpses in a the compost.

Copper Rings

Solid copper ring Slug/Snail Tape (this product has GREAT reviews) of various diameter, used to encircle single or small groups of plants to inflict a mild electric shock on the unsuspecting slug. Look for rings that clip together. These are easy to slip round established plant stems, or join together to form a larger barrier. A copper ring also makes a good slug defeating container stand; or use several to support a board, making a slug proof platform for pots and seed trays.

Hair

A protective barrier of hair or fur around susceptible plants will entangle and deter slugs and snails, and the cut ends are surprisingly uncomfortable to slide over. An added benefit with using this technique is that hair will also supply some nitrogen to the soil as it decomposes.

Removal Of Cover Crops

Snails and slugs love to hide or live under cover leaves of “cover crops”. Cover crops are leafy vegetables that cover the soil and will often time maintain a moist environment for the snails and slugs. So you can prop up the leaves of peas, lettuce, squash, pumpkin and similar vegetables. By propping up the leaves you are still offering some type of environment to your soil in terms of keeping it (the soil) cool and at the same time not creating a moist environment that is conducive to attracting snails and slugs.

I hope you never have to worry about a snail or slug infestation, but if you do, you now have a few remedies to get rid of them.

Until next week, Keep it growing!

Sysco sees U.S. bird flu hurting egg supply up to 18 months

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Food distributor Sysco Corp said on Friday that a record U.S. outbreak of avian flu would limit its supply of eggs and chickens that lay them for nine to 18 months, based on information provided to the company by its suppliers.

Sysco is the biggest U.S. food distributor, whose clients include restaurants, hotels and hospitals. The company is discussing options with its customers, including creating alternative menu items during the period, a Sysco spokesman said in an email. 

It is too soon to tell whether the supply squeeze will have a material impact on financial results, spokesman Charley Wilson said. Eggs represent a small portion of the company's dairy products segment, which accounted for 11 percent of revenue in 2014.

The U.S. poultry and egg industry is grappling with the country's biggest outbreak on record of avian influenza, which has proven highly infectious and deadly for poultry. Governors in Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa have declared a state of emergency, and the outbreak has shown few signs of waning. 

Earlier this week, Cargill Inc [CARG.UL] said it has implemented increased biosecurity measures at its facilities receiving liquid egg tankers and shell eggs from impacted states and that it is working with egg suppliers to ensure they are employing measures to prevent spread of the flu. 

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Post Holdings Inc, calling the flu a "force majeure event," said it now estimates that 25 percent of its egg supply has been affected. Sysco is a major customer for Post's Michael Foods business, which sells egg products, according to filings. 

Stifel Nicolaus analyst Christopher Growe expects Post's previous estimate of a $20 million financial impact in 2015 to at least double, according to a research note. 

Growe said that Post's contracts require the company to go to the open market and to third parties to replace the lost supply at high prices. "We believe that by declaring force majeure, the company will be able to either pass higher prices onto customers or be relieved from the mandatory supply requirements," he wrote.

CPR Training For Everyone: Why It Is Important

Anyone who watches TV probably understands the basic concept of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR — but what do you really know about it beyond the hype? Is there more to it than just kneeling beside someone on the ground and beating on their chest? Proper application of this life-saving technique could literally be the difference between life and death for someone you love.

Each year, approximately 360,000 people suffer sudden cardiac arrest. The majority of them die, in part because the people around them did not know how to do effective CPR or how to use an AED machine. For every minute that goes by without resuscitation, a person’s risk of death increases by 10 percent. CPR education is the key to better outcomes for those with sudden cardiac arrest.

What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

A layperson might associate CPR with a heart attack, but sudden cardiac arrest is more complex than what you’ll see on TV. It is actually an electrical problem like a short in the wiring. The heart relies on electrical impulses to know when to beat. The short changes the heart’s rhythm leading to ventricular fibrillation and stopping blood flow to the brain.

Sudden cardiac arrest could result from a mechanical problem with the heart such as cardiomyopathy, but that is just one possible cause. Allergic reaction, trauma and drowning are all potential sudden cardiac arrests. Many people who experience this appear otherwise healthy.

What is CPR?

CPR has been around for over a century. It started when Dr. H.R. Silvester created a means for artificial respiration called the Silvester Method. Advancements in resuscitation science have improved Dr. Silvester’s original plan. To understand CPR and its purpose, simply break down the label:

• Cardio = heart
• Pulmonary = lungs
• Resuscitation = to restore

When performing CPR, you are restoring blood flow and oxygenation to a person with sudden cardiac arrest. By pressing on the chest, the heart is forced to pump; essentially filling the void left by the electrical problem that stopped it from beating.

Technique is an important part of efficient CPR. Doing CPR wrong means ineffective blood flow and can even cause injury. CPR is not difficult, and with proper training, it can feel like second nature. That is why education is a necessity.

What is an AED?

AED is something you often hear about in conjunction with CPR. An automated external defibrillator is a portable device that can shock the heart back into rhythm. You will see signs for them in public buildings and businesses. Most sudden cardiac arrests involve an unsynchronized heart rhythm. The AED provides an electrical shock that can restore that rhythm and force the heart to beat.

AED is not the same thing as CPR, but something you may learn to use as part of the training.

What You Should Know about CPR

Today’s CPR focuses more on chest compression, or the hands-only approach, explains the American Heart Association. Studies show that blood flow is the most critical aspect of surviving sudden cardiac arrest. Compressing a person’s chest keeps oxygen flowing to sustain the brain and prevent death. There is some evidence that taking the time to do rescue breathing interrupts the blood flow unnecessarily.

The application of CPR and an AED is straightforward. A 2011 study published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes shows just watching an instructional video increases the odds that you will attempt CPR in an emergency.

Effective CPR can triple a victim’s chances of survival, but it doesn’t always work. People who receive this help can still die. Providing it improves the odds, however. Today, only 32 percent of people who go into sudden cardiac arrest get bystander CPR. Less than 8 percent of victims survive the trip to the hospital. CPR offers the best chance of survival for those who suffer sudden cardiac arrest. Without it, this person will most certainly die.

Four out of five cardiac arrests happen at home, so statistically speaking, the person you save by knowing CPR will probably be a family member. Isn’t it worth the time it takes to learn the basic techniques of cardiopulmonary resuscitation?