Guest Essays, Opinion

Guest essay: You could save a life

by Jada Powell

Cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the world. Each year, more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States. Almost three out of four of those happen at home.

If you’re called on to do CPR, you will likely be saving the life of someone you love. The members of our community need us. Our children need us. Our neighbors need us. Our co-workers need us.

The American Heart Association recognizes this need and has a plan to help. You can be the difference by learning CPR to save a life. The American Heart Association is committed to being the leader in resuscitation science, education and training.

This February during American Heart Month, the American Heart Association is specifically focused on learning the life-saving skill of CPR, and we want every family and home to have someone who knows CPR. With the help of local supporters, we can help more of our community be prepared when called on for an emergency.

As a structural heart cardiology nurse practitioner and member of the American Heart Association West Virginia Advocacy Committee, I encourage you to “Be the Beat” by learning CPR. Be the difference and save a life.

Jada Powell, APRN, NP-C, is a structural heart cardiology nurse practitioner at the WVU Medicine Heart and Vascular Institute in Morgantown.