CPR Kits available: Save lives by learning Hands-Only CPR

Miller’s Merry Manor and Hearth’s of Sycamore will distribute free CPR Kits.
Free CPR Anytime kits will be available at Miller’s Merry Manor, 5544 E. State Street on Tuesday, June 5 from 10am – noon and at the Hearths of Sycamore, 611 W. County Line Rd. South, on Wednesday, June 6 from 5:30pm - 7pm. The public is invited to stop by either location and pick up a free kit.

Getting bystanders to take action is a big step in increasing survival of Sudden Cardiac Arrest victims, but 70 percent of Americans may feel helpless to act during a cardiac emergency because they do not know CPR or their training has significantly lapsed.

Through the Go Red For Women® movement, the American Heart Association is urging women and their families to take 60 seconds to learn Hands-Only™ CPR during CPR Week, June 1-7, and share it with five other women so they can learn how to save lives, too. The one-minute video is available at GoRedForWomen.org or http://www.handsonlycpr.org/ .

Hands-Only CPR, or CPR with just chest compressions, can be used on an unresponsive, unconscious adult. The two steps involve calling 9-1-1 and pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest until professional help arrives. During cardiac arrest, the heart suddenly stops beating normally and the victim collapses into unconsciousness. Oxygen-rich blood stops circulating. Without quick action, such as immediate CPR, a victim of cardiac arrest will likely die within four to six minutes.

“Not enough people act when they see someone suddenly collapse. This leads to unnecessary deaths,” said Dr. Bhaktavatsala R. Apuri, a board certified cardiologist in Fort Wane. “If you see an adult go into cardiac arrest, don’t be afraid -- Call 9-1-1 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest. Knowing Hands-Only CPR can increase the likelihood of you saving someone, and it may be someone you love.”

To view the video and learn more about Go Red For Women, visit GoRedForWomen.org or http://www.handsonlycpr.org.

Hands-Only CPR should only be used on adults. Children and victims of drowning* or respiratory conditions need CPR with breaths and compressions. According to the CDC, about ten people die every day from unintentional drowning. Of these, two are children 14 or younger. Learning the risks and taking safety precautions are proven ways to prevent drowning injuries and deaths.