News

Netcare Pretoria East Hospital sets its sights on a Guinness World Record

Hospital aims to set the record for number of chest compressions performed in a day

Thursday, November 21 2013

Netcare management and staff members at Netcare Pretoria East Hospital are involved in saving lives every day but on Wednesday, 4 December, they will be aiming for another impressive feat – being entered into the Guinness Book of World Records for the number of chest compressions performed within a certain time limit.
 
“Currently there is no official Guinness World Record for this type of achievement. However, there is a world record of 70 000 chest compressions performed in the space of four hours on seven mannequins, which was set by the Red Cross in Michigan, USA, in 2010. Netcare Pretoria East Hospital is aiming for an impressive 84 000 compressions on two mannequins in the space of seven hours. The cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) standard is 100 compressions per minute, which means 6 000 compressions in an hour, resulting in 42 000 compressions per mannequin over seven hours,” explains the hospital’s general manager, Ben Rood.
 
Along with the Guinness world record attempt, the hospital will also be conducting a separate training session for the general public over the seven hours, where Netcare 911 will instruct them on the proper way to perform chest compressions. “Knowing CPR could be invaluable as it can literally save someone’s life in cases such as a heart attack, choking or drowning. We are embarking on this world record attempt to raise awareness about the importance of CPR, and hope to train many individuals in the process on how to perform CPR correctly,” concludes Rood.
 
The requirements of setting a Guinness World Record are very specific and there are strict guidelines on how a record can be broken. These requirements include having independent, expert witnesses present for the duration of the record attempt, keeping a logbook on the attempt, recording the entire attempt on DVD, providing details on the background and reasons for the record attempt and submitting photographs and media coverage of the event.
 
If you are interested in witnessing this exciting Guinness world record attempt and learning how to save a life, you are welcome to join the staff of Netcare Pretoria East Hospital at this event, which will be held from 8am to 3pm on 4 December. The hospital is located on the corner of Garsfontein and Netcare Roads in Moreleta Park. For more information contact Ina Nel on 012 422 2300 or [email protected].

End
Issued by : Martina Nicholson Associates (MNA) on behalf of Netcare
Contact : Martina Nicholson, Sarah Beswick or Graeme Swinney
Telephone : (011) 469 3016
Email : [email protected], [email protected], or [email protected]