CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Friday marks the end of CPR and AED Awareness Week. The event is put on by the American Heart Association to raise awareness of the need to always be prepared.
“Unfortunately 350,000 people annually suffer cardiac arrest. That means the heart has ceased to pump and without providing immediate assistance, or CPR, their likelihood of survival is minimal,” said Cynthia Keely, Quality Improvement Manager for the American Heart Association.
Therefore, the Heart Association makes a great effort to get as many people trained to administer CPR and use a an automated external defibrillator as possible.
“Out of those 350,000, 74-percent happen outside of the hospital. So, it’s going to happen at your house, you’ll be with loved ones and other people you know and it could even be where you work,” she explained.
According to Keely, CPR is one of those skills everybody needs to know, but hopes to never have to use. The bottom line is it could be the difference in life or death for somebody.
“Hands only CPR is for anybody. You can watch a video or have somebody talk you through it. It’s simply putting your hands on a breastbone, pushing hard and fast, and calling 911,” she explained.
The American Heart Association routinely hosts in-person classes. You can also catch links with a CPR instructional video on the heart association website.