Tulsa boasts incredible survival rate for sudden cardiac arrest

Tulsa has the second-highest survival rate for sudden cardiac arrest of any city in the country, and a combination of research, technique, and the spread of citizen CPR training accounts for the life-saving difference.

The national survival rate is just under seven percent; in Tulsa, it's more than 45 percent.

Kelli Bruer with EMSA explained during a training session at City Hall involving a number of city councilors Thursday morning.

She tells KRMG one technique they use is to induce hypothermia by injecting the patient with a chilled saline solution.

EMSA ambulances also now immediately transmit data from sensors attached to the patient directly to the hospital, so emergency rooms have advanced knowledge of the patient's condition before they even arrive.

Another change in recent years is how the CPR technique is taught.

For example, EMSA now recommends a faster rate of compressions, 120 times per minute -- or twice a second -- rather than the older rule of 100 per minute.

The faster rate helps keep enough air moving in and out of the lungs to help raise the patient's chance of survival.

No more rescue breaths; the technique now is to simply start compressions and keep them going until help arrives.

The rule is to remember the Three C's: Check, Call, and Compress:

• Check to see if the person has a pulse
• Immediately call 911 for help
• Begin compressions.

Bruer says anyone can learn the basics of CPR in ten minutes.

Citizen CPR in Tulsa offers free training for any group of six people or more.