Did you know that most people who experience cardiac arrest at home, work or in a public location are met with fatal consequences because they don’t receive immediate CPR from someone? No one ever wants to imagine themselves in such a situation with a loved one, friend, or co-worker; or even a stranger. But the reality is that such a situation can indeed happen.

 .

As a bystander, it can be easy (and even natural) to be afraid. However, if you know the steps of basic CPR, your confidence and quick action can overpower your fear to help save a life.

. 

The first week of June is National CPR Awareness Week, and it is a time to not only remind ourselves of the importance of learning and knowing CPR, but also to get ourselves up-to-speed on new life-saving skills and techniques.

.

. 

Did you know:

• Over 380,000 people suffer an out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) every year and an astounding 88% of those occur in the home!  Oftentimes, victims appear to be very healthy and have no known heart disease or even any risk factors.

• Statistically speaking, if you are asked to perform CPR in an emergency, the life you’d save is likely that of a loved one?

• African-Americans are almost twice as likely to experience cardiac arrest at home, work or in another public location than Caucasians, and their survival rates are twice as poor as for Caucasians?

• For every 24-36 bystanders trained in CPR a life is saved?

 .

All the more reason to take the time to learn Hands-Only CPR.  If you know the two steps to Hands-Only CPR, you’re ready to help save a life.

.

 ..

Hands-Only CPR has just two simple steps. If you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse,

(1) Call 9-1-1; and

(2) Push hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of the disco song “Stayin’ Alive” until help arrives.

The American Heart Association’s Hands-Only CPR at this beat can more than double or triple a person’s chances of survival.

 .

.

Check out this National CPR Awareness Week video to see Hands-Only CPR in action.

 .

. 

Additionally, when calling 911 be as specific as possible when asked for your location—especially if you’re calling from a mobile phone as that is not associated with a fixed address. Rest assured that answering the dispatcher’s questions will not delay the arrival of help.

 .

Don’t keep this information to yourself either. National CPR Awareness Week is a great time to share your knowledge of CPR with all of your friends and family, and across all of your social media channels. Remember that ever person who knows basic CPR can mean a life saved.

.

 

.
.

 

I am proud to be a Go Red Blogger Ambassador for the American Heart Association, using social media to drive awareness of the fight against heart disease in women in order to live healthier, stronger and longer lives.

 

National CPR Awareness Week