McLeod and EMS Raise Awareness of Hands-Only CPR at Florence Rotary Club

McLEOD REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER 31 JANUARY 2020

Dr. Anil Om addresses the Florence Rotary Club members on the high rates of heart disease in South Carolina.

On Monday, January 27, 2020, McLeod Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Anil Om and Billy Hatchell with Florence County EMS presented to the Florence Rotary Club at Victors an educational program on heart attacks and Hands-Only CPR.

Dr. Om explained to the group, “South Carolina and the Florence area have one of the highest heart disease rates in the United States, as do most Southern states. This is due primarily to our diet and lack of exercise.”

Hatchell provided a Hands-Only demonstration to Rotarians with the message that mouth-to-mouth contact is no longer necessary in order to administer CPR. To see how to properly perform Hands-CPR, watch the how-to video at McLeodCPR.org.

Dr. Om and Hatchell also emphasized the key symptoms of a heart attack include pain or discomfort in the chest; jaw, neck or back pain; discomfort or pain in arms or shoulder; lightheadedness, fainting or weakness; shortness of breath; nausea and/or vomiting and excessive sweating. If these symptoms occur, call 911. Don’t wait more than 5 minutes.