CPR. A lifesaving action

When an adult has a sudden cardiac arrest, his or her survival depends greatly on immediately getting CPR from someone nearby. Unfortunately, less than 1/3 of those people who experience a cardiac arrest at home, work or in a public location get that help.

Wednesday, July 23rd 2008, 10:49 am

By: News 9


When an adult has a sudden cardiac arrest, his or her survival depends greatly on immediately getting CPR from someone nearby. Unfortunately, less than 1/3 of those people who experience a cardiac arrest at home, work or in a public location get that help. Most bystanders are worried that they might do something wrong or make things worse. That's why the AHA has simplified things. 

Two Steps to Save a Life

When an adult suddenly collapses, trained or untrained bystanders - that means a person near the victim - should:

  1. Call 911
  2. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest

Studies of real emergencies that have occurred in homes, at work or in public locations, shows that these two steps, called Hands-Only CPR, can be as effective as conventional CPR in an emergency. Plus, providing Hands-Only CPR to an adult who has collapsed from a sudden cardiac arrest can more than double that person's chance at survival.

Each year an estimated 166,000 lives are claimed by Sudden Cardiac Arrest, an electronic malfunction that causes rapid and chaotic heart activity.

  • Only about 6% of out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest victims survive.
  • Fewer than 1/3 of cardiac arrest victims receive CPR.
  • Effective CPR can double or triple survival rates.
  • A recent AHA survey shows few Americans are confident they could actually perform CPR and use an AED to help save a life in an emergency cardiac situation.

Information provided by the American Heart Association

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