USAV Employees Certified in CPR, First Aid, AED

Becky Murdy
Assistant, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: becky.murdy@usav.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 21, 2011) – A total of 15 USA Volleyball (USAV) staff members completed the American Heart Association's cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid certification and automated external defibrillator (AED) training March 15, in an effort to recognize the importance of safety within the work space and the community.

“The events department of USAV feels it is important that our own staff be prepared for whatever situations could arise at our events,” USA Volleyball Events Manager Barbara Eisenbeis said. “Learning CPR, first aid and the use of an AED gives our staff the opportunity to be a first responder if necessary; ensuring that USAV is keeping the well-being of our participants and spectators, not to mention our own staff, as a top priority.“

Misty McMahan, school nurse at Woodland Park School District RE-2 in the Colorado Springs area and certified first aid and CPR instructor, taught and certified the group in a four-hour session covering basic treatment and preventions for medical and physical emergencies.

“In a working environment like USA Volleyball, you encounter a lot of different people at a lot of different events,” McMahan said, while addressing the importance of the class.

During the onsite training, USAV employees were prompted to watch hypothetical emergency scenarios on a video, then watch McMahan perform the appropriate techniques on the CPM mannequin, followed by each person participating hands-on in the mock rescue.

Recently, more attention has been given to young athletes and their hearts with devastating deaths like that of Matthew Hammerdorfer, 17-year-old Larimer County Rugby player, Robert Garza, 16-year-old South Texas basketball player and Wes Leonard, 16-year-old Fennville High school basketball player, all of whom collapsed unexpectedly.  Most of the athletes injured or killed annually by heart-related diseases are not aware of their condition. CPR, first aid and AED training can’t prevent all accidents and can’t save all lives, but the knowledge can prepare people to recognize health-risk signs.

According to the American Heart Association and the National Center for Sports Safety, one in every 100,000 young athletes die per year from a heart complication. Hypertrophic cardiomyophathy (HCM) is the leading condition in sudden cardiac deaths among people ages 12-32. USAV recognizes that the majority of people that attend its hundreds of events annually are within that age range. USAV will continue to provide tools and knowledge to protect the well-being of athletes, coaches, staff and fans.

The American Red Cross and The American Heart Association continually change and adjust the steps of CPR in a direct response to survival rates and feedback from those involved with emergency situations outside of a hospital. The new and improved method is simple and consistent for all age groups: two breaths, 30 chest compressions.

According to the American Heart Association, less than one-third of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest victims receive bystander CPR. The American Heart Association also mentions that, “effective bystander CPR, provided immediately after sudden cardiac arrest, can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival.”

“CPR used to be so confusing with the different numbers and steps to memorize, that they found that people were not even attempting to save someone because they were more scared to do something wrong,” McMahan said.

In addition to CPR training, USAV employees were introduced to both medical and physical emergencies ranging from allergic reactions to puncture wounds. Each scenario was broken down and taught step-by-step with overlapping similarities to trigger the memory on what exactly to do in each situation.

“Being in the Education Department for USA Volleyball, learning is wealth,” USAV Coordinator of Coaching Education Andy Pai said. “I am proud to say that recertifying in CPR and AED training has added a new neural pathway for me to use throughout life.”

The last segment of the class was focused on the use of the AED. This “miracle machine,” as McMahan referred to it, is a medical device that checks a person’s heart rhythm, recognizes a rhythm that requires a shock and then delivers that shock.

“You will start noticing these devices more and more now in public settings,” McMahan said. “You can find them in schools, in offices, parks, amusement parks, along with other places. What makes the machine so great is that it talks you through each step and gives simple and detailed instructions on what you should be doing and when you should be doing it.”

The four-hour interactive and educational class certified all participants for two years in CPR, First Aid and AED. For more information about the American Heart Association please click here. USA Volleyball encourages everyone to become certified in these lifesaving skills.

Tags: CPR, Events, First Aid, USA Volleyball, USA Volleyball Boys' Junior National Championships, USA Volleyball Girls' Junior National Championships