A Community LifeTeam EMS staff member shows Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams how to perform chest compressions on an infant, during a press conference on Monday.
In a medical emergency, a few minutes could mean the difference between life and death.
That’s the message that UPMC is sharing with its Minutes Matter campaign, in partnership with Harrisburg, to provide emergency training and education to the public.
“This collaboration will make a difference in our community,” said Lou Baverso, president of UPMC. “It will impact those who may be first on the scene in an emergency and want to know how to help. […] And most importantly it will save the lives of those experiencing an emergency.”
The initiative, which UPMC announced during a press conference with the city on Monday, will provide online and in-person training and resources on how to attempt to save the life of someone experiencing cardiac arrest, uncontrolled bleeding, opioid overdose or a mental health crisis.
Officials aim to empower people who may become bystanders in a health crisis situation. The training will also provide assistance to healthcare professionals by allowing bystanders to intervene until EMS arrives on the scene.
UPMC is working with local churches, organizations, schools and other community partners to host training events. The sessions will include education on tools like CPR, bleeding control and Narcan administration.
Training and education are also available on the Minutes Matter website.
Barry Albertson, director of operations of Community LifeTeam EMS, shared examples of the impact that training provides. While only one out of 10 people experiencing cardiac arrest will survive if bystanders do not assist, five out of 10 will survive if bystanders have training and use CPR and an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), he said. Additionally, he shared that using Narcan when someone is facing an opioid overdose reverses the overdose in 80% to 90% of cases.
“This training impacts everyone,” said Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams. “This is not the time to bury our heads and pretend like this does not happen. You can be the one to save their life.”
To learn more about Minutes Matter and to find training resources and a list of events, visit their website.
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