The Heart Foundation of Jamaica

	Dr Edward Chung DM, FACP, FCCP, FACC Chairman, National Resuscitation Council of Jamaica Emergency Cardiac Care includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid Training. In 1984, the Heart Foundation of Jamaica, in collaboration with Project Hope, initiated Basic CPR training using the American Heart Association (AHA) standards. Over the next 10 years this program was extended to not only the hospitals and medical personnel, but to the tourism industry and lay people at large. In the 1990’s, we started training in Advanced CPR and more recently Paediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). In 2004, the Heart Foundation of Jamaica was certified by the AHA as a Training Organization with responsibilities of training both Basic and Advanced CPR using the AHA standards and criteria. The National Resuscitation council of Jamaica (NRC) has been established under the auspices of the Inter American Heart Foundation (IAHF) with the specific responsibility to regulate the training of Emergency Cardiac Care in Jamaica initially and with a mandate to encourage the establishment of similar organizations in Belize and the Northern Caribbean. The establishment of the NRC is also in response to a worldwide call for improvement in the Chain of Survival. This initiative has approval from both the IAHF and AHA. The National Resuscitation Council of Jamaica is an alliance of organizations and individuals that collaborate to ensure that the Chain of Survival for Emergency Cardiac care is implemented and sustained in Jamaica. The Chain of Survival should ensure early access, early recognition, early CPR, early defibrillation, early advanced care and early rehabilitation. If all these objectives are met, then there will be efficient emergency care and effective response and survival in cardiac emergency situations. The Inter American Heart Foundation was created in September 1992 under the auspices of the World Heart Federation with the support of the AHA, the Inter American Society of Cardiology and the Heart Foundations of the American continent. The IAHF Mission Statement is to reduce disability and death from cardiovascular diseases and stroke in the Americas. Within the Americas the total population is 720 million with the Latin America and Caribbean region (LAC) accounting for 444 million people. Within the region, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke is the leading cause of death in 31 of the 35 countries. The highest mortality for all CVD is found in the English speaking Caribbean, USA, Canada, Argentina Chile and Uruguay and the death rates in these countries are increasing steadily.

	Here are a few important Facts: 1. The most important determinant of survival from sudden cardiac arrest is the presence of a trained rescuer who is ready, willing, able and equipped to act. 2. Although advanced life support techniques may improve survival, these improvements are usually less significant than the increased survival rates reported by lay rescuers and automatic external defibrillation programs in the community. It is with this in mind that we encourage both the training of Basic CPR in the wider community and for the implementation of AED in all public places such as airports, malls and sport facilities. Our greatest challenge remains the education of the lay rescuers, increasing the efficiency of effectiveness of the instructions and to reduce the barriers to action for both Basic and Advanced life support providers. The NRC will operate as an inclusive group of all organizations and individuals (whether national, international or regional) that have a role to play in the Chain of Survival and will foster links with these organizations and professional to achieve this aim. The NRC will formulate programs, plans and activities to facilitate a streamlined and unified approach to efficient emergency care in collaboration with all organizations and professionals. The NRC will also foster links with all organizations including governmental agencies that have a role to play in the Chain of Survival. The NRC will not be directly involved in training of CPR and First Aid but will assist in provision of quality assurance of programs and act as advocacy with Government, Private Sector Agencies and for the General Public. In so doing, we intend to provide and assume a leadership role in the Emergency Care at a national level. continue reading pg 1/2