What would you do?

On this week’s chapter, I want to focus my blog on the CPR study from Sampson. From what I got out from that they conducted data’s in Chicago with individuals who had cardiac arrest and the information on the victim and where it was taking place. It was found “that the rate of giving CPR varied significantly across census tracts” (Sampson, 219). With this, Sampson looks at 2 features to CPR by a bystander. The first characteristic is where the cardiac arrest took place, what time did someone called in 911, and if it was witnessed or not. The second would be the victim, their age, race, and sex. Overall, the findings was that individuals are more likely to perform CPR if it was witnessed, individuals are more likely to perform CPR “the victim was older or white” (Sampson, 220).

 With this study, they found that there were “no gender differences” (Sampson, 220). Although Sampson presented the findings, I believe that performing CPR depends on the neighborhood and the surroundings. One summer I worked in Skokie as a camp counselor. In order to continue with my training, I had to be CPR certified. I worked with kids’ age ranges from 6-10. I think it’s important to learn about CPR, not because I had to do it for my job, but being able to perform CPR to potentially saving ones life. One might not want to intervene based on their lack of skills from performing CPR and afraid to perform. One thing that stood out to me that I never thought about before is whether or not someone would perform CPR based on the location. Neighborhoods that lack of programs to teach, poor, fail to learn, and lack of funding might have a lower chance to help the victim. An article I found from the CBS News collected data of how CPR was more likely in a predominantly white neighborhood and less likely in a predominantly black neighborhood.  I thought this definitely relates to what we’ve been talking about. This has to do with the community and the neighborhood effects.

• Sampson J. Robert (2012). GREAT AMERICAN CITY. The University of Chicago Press.
• Study: CPR less likely in lower income, black neighborhoods. 2012. CBS NEWS.
• http://www.cbsnews.com/news/study-cpr-less-likely-in-low-income-black-neighborhoods/