PITTSBURGH, October 16, 2024 — Today is World Restart a Heart Day! The American Heart Association and ZOLL are teaming up to help save lives in the Greater Pittsburgh region by increasing access to CPR training.
With ZOLL’s support, the American Heart Association is working with the University of Pittsburgh’s Project LIFESAVER initiative to address gaps in bystander CPR rates in the region’s most under-resourced neighborhoods. Six training sessions have taken place in McKees Rocks, the Hill District, South Oakland and in Homewood with plans to expand to the North Side and other neighborhoods soon.
As part of this initiative, ZOLL is sponsoring the American Heart Association’s Hands-Only CPR training kiosk, which has been a fixture at Carnegie Science Center’s SportsWorks since 2017. This kiosk has welcomed more than 107,000 visitors and trained over 71,000 people. It is being relaunched as part of World Restart a Heart Day, reaffirming ZOLL’s commitment to the mission of the American Heart Association.
“ZOLL has a mission to help save more lives and improve patient outcomes, and our employees contribute to this goal every day. With offices right here in Pittsburgh, we manufacture products and create solutions for heart patients,” said Sean Rollman, Chief Financial Officer of ZOLL Cardiac Management Solutions and member of the AHA Pittsburgh Executive Leadership Team. “We are proud to partner with the American Heart Association to give back to the greater Pittsburgh community and advance initiatives to save lives from cardiac disease.”
Seven in 10 people in America say they feel powerless to act in the face of a cardiac emergency. As a result, fewer than half of all people who need this lifesaving skill receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) from bystanders before professional help arrives. Hands-Only CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.
“The American Heart Association’s Nation of Lifesavers initiative aims to ensure that in the event of a cardiac emergency, anyone, anywhere is ready and empowered to become a crucial link in the chain of survival,” said Leeanna McKibben, Board Chairperson for the American Heart Association Greater Pittsburgh. “We are thrilled to have ZOLL join us on this mission to build Pittsburgh as a ‘City of Lifesavers.’ We need more companies like ZOLL to commit and help make CPR awareness and education a permanent fixture in all communities across our region.”
Each year in the United States, more than 350,000 people, including 23,000 children, experience cardiac arrests outside of a hospital. Unfortunately, 90% of these individuals do not survive. CPR is a critical skill that even children as young as 9-years-old can learn.
However, recent studies show that Black adults and other historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups are less likely to receive bystander CPR. Women also face barriers to receiving bystander CPR, such as fear of legal repercussions, accusations of inappropriate touching, and lack of knowledge.
Hands-Only CPR is chest compression-only CPR. Science has shown that following a witnessed cardiac arrest of a teen or an adult, compression-only CPR can be equally effective in the first few minutes of emergency response. If a teen or adult suddenly collapses, bystanders should immediately call emergency services and begin chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute and a depth of at least two inches.
The American Heart Association encourages everyone to take 90 seconds to learn how to save a life at www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR.
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for a century. During 2024 - our Centennial year - we celebrate our rich 100-year history and accomplishments. As we forge ahead into our second century of bold discovery and impact our vision is to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
About ZOLL
ZOLL, an Asahi Kasei company, develops and markets medical devices and software solutions that help advance emergency care and save lives, while increasing clinical and operational efficiencies. With products for defibrillation and cardiac monitoring, circulation enhancement and CPR feedback, supersaturated oxygen therapy, data management, ventilation, therapeutic temperature management, and sleep apnea diagnosis and treatment, ZOLL provides a comprehensive set of technologies that help clinicians, EMS and fire professionals, as well as lay rescuers, improve patient outcomes in critical cardiopulmonary conditions. For more information, visit www.zoll.com.
About Carnegie Science Center
Carnegie Science Center, soon to be the Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Science Center, is dedicated to inspiring learning and curiosity by connecting science and technology with everyday life. By making science both relevant and fun, the Science Center’s goal is to increase science literacy in the region and motivate young people to seek careers in science and technology. One of the four Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, the Science Center is Pittsburgh’s premier science exploration destination and the region’s most-visited museum, reaching more than 500,000 people annually through its hands-on exhibits, camps, classes, and off-site education programs.
For Media Inquiries:
Karen Colbert: karen.colbert@heart.org
Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org