Many love the idea of spending a summer in Malibu — surfing, swimming, laying on the sand and taking in some sunshine. But it’s also crucial to be prepared for any and all emergencies, including saving someone’s life through CPR.
“When we see an increase in population and activity in Malibu, we see increase in calls and accidents,” said Maria Grycan, the Los Angeles County Fire Department Community Services representative.
“We would encourage everybody to learn CPR.”
The idea of CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) can seem daunting because of a fear of administering it incorrectly or being put off by giving “mouth-to-mouth.” But CPR standards have changed in recent years, and mouth-to-mouth contact is no longer part of the process, safety officials say.
“Those days are gone,” Grycan said.
To increase awareness and educate locals, firefighters have begun offering 5-minute “sidewalk” CPR lessons around town.
More than 100 people were taught CPR in Malibu last week during firefighter demonstrations at Zuma Beach, Point Dume Plaza and Malibu Colony Plaza.
No certification or license is required, no mouth contact is needed and checking for a pulse is no longer necessary.
“It is just a matter of doing hand compressions,” Grycan said. “That is why we refer to it today as ‘sidewalk CPR.’”
Firefighter and paramedic Chad Sourbeer, who works at Station 88 in Malibu, has offered to teach CPR to anyone, including children, on any day of the year.
“Knowing CPR is very important and is very easy to learn,” he said.
The first step is to assess the victim’s responsiveness by shaking them and shouting. Second, call 911. Third, conduct 100 chest compressions per minute with a depth of about two inches for an adult. (For full video demonstration, visit heart.org.)
In 2008, the American Heart Association found that enough oxygen circulates in the human body through chest compressions without the use of mouth-to-mouth techniques, rendering mouth-to-mouth irrelevant.
Preparation is key
For LA County Fire Capt. Lipp, preparation is essential, no matter when or where.
“How many times have you heard about a kid doing high school sports that just goes down due to an unknown heart problem?” he said.
Sudden injuries or accidents can also cause cardiac arrest and require immediate resuscitation. Often times, though, people make reckless mistakes.
“There are many water-related accidents and injuries that occur every summer. Don’t dive into shallow water. I can’t stress that enough,” Sourbeer advised.
On the road, drivers face additional dangers. According to the Auto Club of Southern California, the 100 deadliest days of summer occur between Memorial Day and Labor Day and are an especially deadly time for teens and passengers who are often distracted by smart phones.
Auto Club spokesperson Elaine Beno said traffic crash rates increase 26 percent during summer months as compared to the rest of the year.
But in Malibu, traffic collisions aren’t the only risk.
“Summer time in Malibu attracts an influx of visitors. People need to be aware about the number of people in Malibu on foot and on bikes. It’s not all auto-related traffic accidents,” said Grycan. “Pedestrians are all over the streets and running across the highway and drivers need to share the road with bicyclists.”
