CPRsavesVR is a public outreach initiative developed out of the need to educate citizens how to perform chest compression only CPR properly in the event of a witnessed cardiac arrest. Nearly 80% of cardiac arrests happen in the home. As emergency response workers, we know, the very first person there to help in a cardiac arrest emergency will be a citizen. If we can train our citizens to engage in
chest compression only CPR before we arrive, the victim of the arrest is 50% more likely to survive the event. Our Thurston County EMS system already has one of the highest rates of cardiac arrest survival in the world. Through rigorous training, new science, and dedicated crews, we have achieved a nearly 60% survival rate, with a national average being just 9-11%. There is one step missing to get our rates even higher, and this is why I am seeking your partnership today. Our mission initially is to reach out to the Lacey, WA community, and greater Thurston County area to help with community needs not traditionally covered by emergency services. We want you and your agency to be a part of our team. Our Mission:
Phase one of our mission is to instruct 20,000 citizens in Thurston County how to perform citizen CPR and what steps to take if they witness a cardiac arrest. We want our citizens to be an extension of our EMS team and act before our crews even arrive. These communities would also include historically underserved communities like the Nisqually Native American Community. How we are doing it:
Our goal is to prepare citizens for the unfortunate and unexpected challenge of witnessing a cardiac arrest. The truth is, it’s scary to do CPR, and the stress and anxiety it produces may cause you to hesitate in a real emergency. Whether the person affected is someone you love or someone you hardly know, we want you to be ready to respond. Our theory is that immersive media like virtual reality ( VR ) and 360-degree video allows us to deliver true-to-life experiences in a safe and virtual way. VR affords us a sense of presence and empathy that mirrors a real-life event. We aren’t delivering this message in a light-hearted or comedic manner because we know that saving a life is a serious matter. We can build learning opportunities and reduce hesitation within virtual emergencies to prepare if you are faced with an actual cardiac arrest emergency. Your emergency responders are ready to help you; we want you to be ready too. This project was created by murphy+alzner / all things content and Lacey Fire District 3 with the support and partnership of Thurston County Medic One and University of Washington Communication Leadership Program. For information on CPRsavesVR please contact Zac Murphy and Karen Weiss at [email protected]
