During February – American Heart Month – the American Heart Association, the leading voluntary health organization devoted to a world of longer, healthier lives for all, is urging at least one person in every household to commit to learning Hands-Only CPR. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. This year’s American Heart Month 2023 activities are designed to help motivate people to “Be the Beat”needed to keep someone alive by learning the two simple steps it takes to save a life – call 9-1-1 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest.
According to American Heart Association data, more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the U.S. each year. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival – which his key since about 90 percent of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die. And, because about 70 percent of cardiac arrests happen at home, odds are the person who needs CPR will be a family member or friend. Hands-Only CPR is quick and simple to learn and can be performed by any family member or bystander.
“If you are called to give CPR in an emergency, you will most likely be trying to save the life of a loved one: a spouse, a parent, grandparent, child or a friend,” said Lawrence Kanner, MD, Chief, Cardiology, Director, Electrophysiology/Arrhythmia Services, Mount Sinai South Nassau. “We are excited to help bring awareness to the importance of CPR this Heart Month and we encourage people to be prepared for a cardiac emergency by learning Hands-Only CPR to help save lives.’
Hands-Only CPR involves two simple steps and anyone can learn it from a 60-second video available at heart.org/handsonlycpr.
- Step 1 – If a teen or adult in your home suddenly collapses call 9-1-1 immediately.
- Step 2 – Place one hand on top of the other as shown in the video and push hard and fast on the victim’s chest.
According to the American Heart Association, people feel more comfortable performing Hands-Only CPR and are more likely to remember the correct rate when trained to the beat of a familiar song. All songs between 100 – 120 beats per minute, the same rate at which rescuers should perform compressions when administering CPR. The beat of any of several songs including “Stayin Alive,” by the Bee Gees, “Crazy in Love,” by Beyonce’ featuring Jay-Z, “Hips Don’t Lie,” by Shakira or “Walk the Line,” by Johnny Cash can “Be the Beat” to save a life.
“As part of our mission to improve health of all New Yorkers, we are excited to support the American Heart Association’s Hands-Only CPR campaign and bring awareness to the importance of knowing CPR this Heart Month. We encourage people to be prepared for a cardiac emergency by learning Hands-Only CPR to help save lives,” Dr. AnneBeth Litt, Chief Medical Director, Empire BlueCross BlueShield.
Visit heart.org/handsonlycpr to watch and share our Hands-Only CPR instructional video. Be the Beat and help save a life!
The American Heart Association’s Hands-Only CPR campaign is nationally supported by the Elevance Health Foundation.
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