Chino Valley Independent Fire District has achieved remarkable success in its unwavering mission to enhance survival rates for sudden cardiac arrest. The latest statistics show that the Utstein Survival rates in the Chino Valley reached an impressive 62.5 percent in 2021. This figure nearly triples the county survival rates and doubles the state and national averages.
Utstein criteria is a recognized standard based on witnessed, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in a shockable rhythm. The Chino Valley Fire District's innovative community-based approach, which emphasizes widespread bystander CPR training and increased availability of automated external defibrillators (AEDs), has been pivotal in this significant progress.
Chino Valley Fire acknowledges that saving lives requires a comprehensive approach involving various stakeholders. The collaborative efforts of the community, local officials, law enforcement agencies, transportation partners, and receiving facilities have been instrumental in achieving these remarkable results. Since adopting the community-based approach to managing sudden cardiac arrest, Chino Valley Fire has witnessed consistent improvements year after year. From 2018 to 2021, the Utstein survival rate has skyrocketed from 16.7 percent to 62.5 percent. In contrast, state and national averages have remained relatively stagnant, underscoring the outstanding accomplishment of Chino Valley Fire.
Chino Valley Fire has trained more than 31,000 individuals within the Chino Valley on hands-only CPR and AED use. To further increase accessibility to AEDs, the Chino Valley Fire Foundation committed to donating one AED per month to local businesses or community organizations. Once the AED is installed, Chino Valley Fire personnel train the public to ensure they can effectively use the donated equipment.
Chino Valley Fire also recognized the importance of High-Performance CPR, which involves chest compressions at the proper rate, depth, and recoil. A High-Performance CPR cadre comprising Chino Valley Fire personnel was established to identify and develop protocols to enhance resuscitation efforts. The cadre's mission is to train, design, and improve the performance of our providers when managing cardiac arrest, with the hope of tangibly improving survival rates for our community members.
The remarkable increase in survival rates from out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest has drawn attention from EMS agencies nationwide and worldwide. Chino Valley Fire has become a beacon of best practices, with these agencies seeking consultation to replicate our success. The dedication, continuous training, and unwavering commitment of all Chino Valley Fire personnel and the support from the Chino Valley Fire District Board of Directors have been integral to this remarkable feat.
As Chino Valley Fire continues its pursuit of excellence in life-saving measures, the community can take pride in its Fire District's extraordinary achievements. Chino Valley Fire has revolutionized cardiac arrest care through a community-based approach, widespread CPR training, and increased access to AEDs.
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