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| You are here: Main / Emergency Services Department / Emergency Medical Services / EMS-About the CPR Hula | ||||
How does the CPR Hula represent CPR?
What is the CPR Hula?Ka'a Malama Ola CPR Hula is an original composition written by a group of City and County of Honolulu EMS Division paramedics. The lyrics were written by MICT Sue Archer and MICT Patty Dukes with the music composed by MICT Arnold Paragoso. The hula was choreographed by Gerlynn Silva, EMS Administration office staff member and MICT Archer.Ka'a Malama Ola is the Hawaiian functional term for the ambulance, graciously coined by two lovely kupuna in Waimanalo at the blessing ceremony of the area's new ambulance a few years ago. Ka'a Malama Ola translates to "Car that Preserves Life."
Why was the song written?As paramedics who respond to all 911 calls on the island of Oahu, the MICTs see firsthand the sad scenario of a patient going into cardiac arrest in their home and the ensuing panic and feeling of helplessness experienced by the family members. These emotions are compounded when no one in the home is able to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). As members of the emergency medical field, the paramedics join with the American Heart Association in their ongoing drive to encourage more citizens to learn CPR. Through their hula, the goal is to reach many people who normally would not think about learning this skill. Too often, CPR is associated with death and tragedy rather than celebrated as a wonderful, potentially lifesaving act.
How does the CPR Hula repsent CPR?Ka'a Malama Ola CPR Hula is written in a lively, hapa haole style with lyrics involving some pidgin English. The basic steps of bystander CPR are given in the lyrics and the motions such as head tilt, ventilation and compressions - are demonstrated in the hula movements. Callers are reminded to call 9-1-1 immediately in the event of a collapsed person and to "listen to the folks at 9-1-1." Many times a caller will be anxious and is tempted to hang up the phone too quickly. The public must be reminded that the 9-1-1 ambulance dispatchers are trained to give pre-arrival instructions in CPR as the ambulance rolls to the scene. The dispatchers are there to help them while obtaining as much information about the situation so as to inform the responding paramedics.
The CPR Hula and public educationThe paramedics serve our communities. It is their belief that an effective emergency medical service has its roots in the public. The patient, the private physician and loved ones have their own 9-1-1 roles. By increasing citizen CPR awareness and knowledge, a weakened link of the EMS chain of survival is strengthened. Paramedics and the rest of the medical field can never guarantee that everyone will survive cardiac arrest even with bystander CPR. There is a shared feeling that if everything possible was done for a patient, it is a valid definition of good emergency medical care.Many times people will say they have not considered taking a CPR course because it seems "too hard" or that CPR is for medical professionals only. If CPR is approached on the lay-person level, via aids such as the hula, perhaps it would encourage more discussion and interest in the skill. A concerted effort involving public safety agencies, the American Heart Association and community service groups, business and military agencies should be mapped out. Ultimately the CPR Hula can be utilized in a public awareness campaign via a media blitz. Ideally, a public service announcement --envision a myriad of people from all walks of life doing the hula--could be produced. School age children can be taught the hula and song to spark parental interest in the program. Several members of the City and County EMS Division have formed a group which has been doing volunteer performances of the CPR Hula, and have been well received by the audiences. Many members of the audience want to know where they can get CPR training. Any opportunities to present the CPR Hula to the public are welcomed.
The Participants
For More Information:Click here to visit the CPR Hula 'Ohana's website  | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Reviewed: Friday, June 17, 2005 |
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| Friday, June 17, 2005 |
