PITTSBURGH, December 2, 2022 -- The American Heart Association, the world's leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, continues its mission-critical work by joining forces with C.H.A.M.P organizers Sylvia Owusu-Ansah, MD, MPH, FAAP and Noel Spears, MD with UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, along with their colleagues to teach 90 students the lifesaving skill of Hands-Only CPR. The training is part of the Bystander CPR and Stop the Bleed program designed to empower young people to quickly take action in emergency situations.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), especially if performed immediately, could double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival. Sadly, only about 46 percent of people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest receive immediate help from a layperson.
Students at Arsenal Middle School will learn Hands-Only CPR using American Heart Association CPR in School kits provided by Chevron. Not only will students learn the lifesaving skill in school, but they will also be encouraged to teach family and friends at home and in the community.
Cardiac arrest occurs when a person's heart abruptly stops pumping blood, which can be fatal if not immediately treated with CPR or a defibrillator to restore normal heart rhythm. About 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside the hospital each year in the U.S., most often in a person's home. People who receive CPR from family, friends or strangers while waiting for emergency personnel to arrive are twice as likely to survive as those who don't.
“Learning this skill is crucial because over 70 percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in the home, so you will most likely be trying to save the life of someone you love, said Dr. Owusu-Ansah, EMS Medical Director and pediatrician at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. “We need laypeople to be part of the chain of survival to ensure that cardiac arrest victims get the help they need before emergency responders arrive.”
“Every second counts during cardiac arrest and Hands-Only CPR has been shown to be as effective as conventional CPR for sudden cardiac arrest in public,” said Matthew Sousa, executive director for the American Heart Association, Greater Pittsburgh. “We applaud and support the efforts of Dr. Owusu-Ansah, Arsenal Middle School, C.H.A.M.P. and everyone involved at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh for promoting the importance of Hands-Only CPR training in schools. We urge everyone, in all communities to learn this lifesaving skill and encourage others to do the same.”
Learn Hands-Only CPR 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 nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
For Media Inquiries:
Karen Colbert, American Heart Association, Greater Pittsburgh
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org
