Witnessing a cardiac arrest can be frightening, but don’t be afraid to take action — two simple steps can save a life.Each year, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital or emergency department, according to the American Heart Association.
When someone experiences cardiac arrest, immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can make the difference between life and death. In fact, immediate CPR can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.Many people still think that effective CPR involves mouth-to-mouth resuscitation as well as chest compressions, and they may be hesitant to perform it, but that is not the case.Hands-Only CPR has been shown to be as effective as the conventional CPR for cardiac arrests in the home, office, or in public places in the first few minutes until more advanced help arrives.
“By equipping people with Hands-Only CPR training, they learn how easy the technique is and there is a comfort level that will help them overcome concerns that cause hesitation to act in an emergency,” say Raina Merchant, Chair, American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care.Hands-only CPR includes just two simple steps.- First, call 911.- Second, push hard and fast in the center of the chest of the individual having a cardiac arrest. How hard to push? At least 2 inches. How fast? That’s easy. Use the beat of a familiar song that has 100 to 120 beats per minute. For example, the classic disco hit, “Stayin’ Alive” can help you stay on pace, but anything with a similar tempo will do.
