ECC Beat 1/17/2025

Welcome to the first ECC Beat of 2025! AHA is excited about the new year and gearing up for American Heart Month in February. During American Heart Month, the American Heart Association wants to make sure every parent knows CPR. Each year, more than 23,000 kids experience cardiac arrest and nearly 20 percent are infants.

As we get ready for Heart Month, the AHA encourages every family in the US to become part of the Nation of Lifesavers™ by learning CPR.

More than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur every year in the United States and less than half of all people who need this lifesaving skill receive CPR from bystanders before professional help arrives.

We encourage our AHA CPR Training Network to help raise awareness about Heart Month and CPR with their loved ones, friends, and communities. Visit heart.org/nation where there is a CPR Basics quiz, Hands-Only CPR video, and other helpful resources that can be shared with others.

Our first phase of updates to the “Find a Class” tool on our Atlas platform are planned for release on January 22, 2025. These enhancements are designed to make your experience smoother and allow more visibility for your class locations, helping students quickly find the classes they are looking for. To see all the details and view images highlighting the new features, check out our updated reference guide (AHA login required).

Stay tuned for more information on additional future enhancements to Find a Class.

Four hours into his first day at Buckhead Meat Co., a new hire collapsed during training. The sales manager’s urgent calls for help alerted nearby Diane Mazza, who instinctively grabbed an AED. Despite her efforts, the situation worsened, prompting her to start CPR. Diane’s quick thinking and the assistance of coworkers Carmen Christeleit and Katie Carbone, who took turns performing CPR, kept the new hire’s chances alive until EMTs arrived. The EMTs praised their efforts and took over, eventually reviving the colleague with a shock from their AED.

The survivor, in his late 50s, was transported to John F. Kennedy University Medical Center, where he continued to improve. Patricia Benjamin, another colleague, stayed with him at the hospital, helping him connect with his family. The survivor, who had a pacemaker without a defibrillator, expressed deep gratitude to his rescuers, knowing the outcome could have been tragic for his young sons.

Thankfully, Katie had attended a recent CPR training session that she says made a real impact. “It was the first time I’ve had formal CPR training, so obviously I’m very grateful that we were given that opportunity through Sysco because the training was fantastic. The manikin provided helpful feedback regarding rate and depth of compressions. The training definitely made a difference in this outcome.” Buckhead Meat Co.’s commitment to regular CPR training proved invaluable, highlighting the importance of being prepared for emergencies.

For the full story, visit AHA’s CPR blog.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has established a comprehensive Ethics Policy that applies to all AHA leaders, Training Centers (TCs), and Instructors. This policy underscores the responsibility of these positions to uphold a high standard of conduct. The ECC Leadership Code of Conduct mandates that all individuals in AHA ECC leadership roles conduct themselves with honesty, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to the goals of the AHA and ECC Programs. This code provides clear standards of professional conduct, covering activities directly related to ECC leadership functions, committee activities, and other AHA programs or activities.

Key Points:

• Competence: ECC leaders must demonstrate knowledge in their specific areas, maintain prerequisites, and participate in required educational sessions.
• Respect for Others: Zero tolerance for discrimination or harassment; everyone must be treated fairly regardless of race, gender, or other protected characteristics.
• Integrity: Leaders must act with honesty and fairness, adhering to all AHA rules and regulations.
• Neutrality: Maintain neutrality regarding proprietary products or brand names, avoiding advocacy for specific brands outside of AHA recommendations.

If you have any questions or concerns about this Ethics Policy or are unsure about what is the “right thing” to do, we strongly encourage you to first talk with an Association leader. If for any reason you are uncomfortable talking to an Association leader, you may contact the Association’s ethics hotline at 866-293-2427 or visit www.ethicspoint.com to report your concerns.

Maintaining the integrity and quality of our training programs is a collective responsibility. Your commitment to these ethical standards helps us continue to save lives and promote heart health effectively. Thank you for your dedication and support.