Hands-On CPR Can Double Survival Chances in Cardiac Arrest

Pembroke Park fire educator explains the importance of immediate CPR and AED use when someone collapses

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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In the event of sudden cardiac arrest, every minute counts before emergency responders arrive. Pembroke Park fire educator Scott Rogers emphasizes that administering hands-on CPR can double or even triple someone's chance of survival, and using an AED machine can be a "game changer" in restarting the heart. While AEDs are encouraged in businesses, they are not required, making hands-on CPR vital to helping save a life.

Why it matters

Cardiac arrest can happen anywhere, and the brain can die within 6-10 minutes without oxygen. CPR and AED use are crucial in those critical first minutes before emergency crews arrive, especially in rural areas where response times can be much longer.

The details

Rogers explains that the first step is to try to wake the person, and if they don't respond, have someone call 911 while you begin hands-on CPR. This involves placing one hand on top of the other and doing compressions right in the center of the chest until help arrives. AED machines, which can "shock" the heart and restart it, are game-changers but not required in all businesses, making CPR training all the more vital.

  • On average, emergency crews arrive within 6-12 minutes in cities, but 12-36 minutes in rural areas.

The players

Scott Rogers

A community educator with Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue who provided hands-on CPR training and explained the importance of immediate action in cardiac arrest situations.

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What they’re saying

“Everybody thinks it's just the heart when we are having a heart attack, but the thing they don't realize is that the brain can die. And the brain can die within six to ten minutes if nobody is doing CPR and delivering oxygen to the brain.”

— Scott Rogers, Community Educator, Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue (local10.com)

“You are giving this person a chance of life before we get there.”

— Scott Rogers, Community Educator, Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue (local10.com)

“Realize if you don't do it, you have an almost zero percent chance of not making it.”

— Scott Rogers, Community Educator, Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue (local10.com)

What’s next

The Pembroke Pines Fire Rescue department encourages all residents to take CPR training courses to be prepared in the event of a cardiac emergency.

The takeaway

Immediate hands-on CPR and AED use can mean the difference between life and death in sudden cardiac arrest situations, especially in areas with longer emergency response times. This highlights the vital importance of CPR training for all community members.