For many years, Portage County EMS has strived to provide the best possible care to sudden cardiac arrest victims. The County has promoted Automated External Defibrillator (AED) placement at public gathering spaces and all Emergency Medical Responders and Law Enforcement patrol units in the County carry AEDs. Our ambulances have a full line of resuscitation equipment and medications and every cardiac arrest case has Paramedic-level care provided.

A critical, but often lacking, component of cardiac arrest remains early CPR from bystanders. The American Heart Association (AHA) now encourages anyone that witnesses a cardiac arrest to call 911 and begin Hands-Only™ CPR.

If an adult suddenly collapses and is not breathing or is not breathing normally:

• Call 911
• Push hard and fast in the center of the chest

That’s all there is to it! You could save a life. Click HERE to go to the AHA website and watch a brief video on Hands-Only™ CPR.

You may also contact the American Red Cross, your local technical college or an American Heart Association Training Center for CPR training.