(June 2013) Do you know the two simple steps of Hands-Only™ CPR? Then you’re ready to help save a life. In recognition of National CPR-AED Awareness Week (June 1 – June 7), the American Heart Association is continuing the national awareness campaign and its call for all students to learn how to perform Hands-Only CPR to the beat of the Bee Gees’ hit “Stayin’ Alive.”
Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death with nearly 360,000 out-of-hospital cases occurring every year in the United States. When a teen or adult has a sudden cardiac arrest, survival depends on immediately receiving CPR from someone nearby, especially since survival rates drop as much as 10% for every minute that goes by without intervention. The Bees Gees’ hit song “Stayin’ Alive” has more than 100 beats per minute, which is the rate you should push on the chest during Hands-Only CPR.
“The iconic song’s s beat is an easy and fun way for people to remember the correct rhythm for CPR chest compressions, and make them feel more confident doing it,” said Bob Elling, paramedic instructor and member of the Founders Affiliate Board of the American Heart Association. “If you begin Hands-Only CPR to the beat of the Bee Gees’ ‘Stayin’ Alive’ immediately on a teen or adult who collapses from sudden cardiac arrest, you can double or triple their chances of survival.”
“We also know that teens are capable of learning Hands-Only CPR, which is why the American Heart Association continues to advocate for passage of the CPR in Schools bill in the state of New York,” Elling said. “Hands-Only CPR can be taught in one or two class periods, and isn’t expensive to teach.”
The CPR in Schools bill, A6240/S4524, is sponsored by Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg, D-Long Beach, and Sen. Charles Fuschillo, R-Merrick.
Hands-Only CPR has been shown to be equally as effective as conventional mouth-to-mouth CPR, and people are more likely to feel comfortable performing it. A December 2012 study published in the American Heart Association’s journal, Circulation found that chest compression-only CPR performed by bystanders keeps more people alive with good brain function after having a sudden cardiac arrest.
As part of the second year of the national Hands-Only CPR campaign, the American Heart Association debuted new TV and radio public service announcements, digital promotions and a one-minute Hands-Only CPR demo video to train Americans in the life-saving technique.
What happens when an overzealous sports fan’s buddy collapses from cardiac arrest? Watch this 1-minute video to learn the simple steps to help save a life with Hands-Only CPR. If you know the two steps to Hands-Only CPR, you’re ready to help save a life.
To learn more about the Hands-Only CPR campaign and get ready to save a life visit heart.org/handsonlycpr, facebook.com/AHACPR or youtube.com/HandsOnlyCPR.
AED Grant offers funding toward the purchase of an AED. What a better way to celebrate CPR and AED Awareness Week then beginning your quest to obtain a unit to place at your facility? Visit http://www.AEDGrant.com for more information on our program and to download an application to begin the review / approval process!