Mohawk Valley Rotary Club members were offered a free Hands- Only CPR training through a partnership that Bassett Healthcare Network and the American Heart Association (AHA) have to help people learn basic hands-only CPR skills. The American Heart Association has done research to provide an alternative way to save someone’s life without using traditional CPR. Hands-Only CPR can be performed with hard and fast motions, locked elbows and overlapped hands.
It took just a few minutes Tuesday to train dozens of people in hands-only CPR. The hands-only method of CPR, which is at least as effective as traditional CPR and does not require mouth-to-mouth breathing, involves a few steps according to Sarah Stevens, Director of Heart Walk at the American Heart Association of the Mohawk Valley Region.
Call 9-1-1 and then place one hand on the center of the person’s chest, place the other hand on top of the first, and push down – as hard and fast as possible – until help arrives, or another bystander can relieve you.
As you push, keep your arms straight, and depress the chest at least two inches with each push, letting it rise between pushes. The goal: at least 100 compressions a minute.
“Think about the Bee Gees’ disco classic “Stayin’ Alive,”said Sarah.
If your company is interested in receiving this free Hands-Only CPR training please contact Sarah Stevens at sarah.stevens@heart.org or 315-580-3959.