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American Red Cross launches Citizen CPR
Campaign to educate 5 Million People in
Hands-only CPR by End of 2011
WASHINGTON, Oct.
21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With
the increasing importance of compression
only or "hands only" CPR in many cardiac
emergencies, the American Red Cross today
announced an initiative to educate 5 million
people in 2011 about the use of this
potentially lifesaving technique.
Hands-only CPR is a technique that involves
simply using chest compressions on an
individual who has suffered sudden cardiac
arrest. The technique involves no mouth to
mouth contact and is best used in
emergencies outside of hospitals where a
bystander has seen another person suddenly
collapse.
The American Red Cross is the nation's largest
provider of CPR and first aid training, and
the new Red Cross initiative includes
several different ways in which the public
can learn hands-only CPR:
In early 2011, the Red Cross will launch a
30-minute, instructor-led "Citizen CPR"
skills training so the average person can
quickly and easily learn the hands only
technique.
People can now go to www.redcross.org
to
download a free PDF instructional guide and
watch a two-minute video on the hands-only
CPR technique.
The Red Cross already offers a product to help
people learn hands-only CPR at home. That
product can be purchased at www.redcross.org and
retails for $9.99.
"Emergencies are more common than most of us
know," said Dr. David
Markinson,
a Red Cross advisory council chair. "We
could increase the likelihood of surviving
cardiac emergencies that occur outside a
hospital by putting more victims within a
few steps of lifesaving assistance. In a
life-threatening situation, performing
hands-only CPR is better than doing nothing
at all."
As part of the initiative, the Red Cross is
urging high schools to add hands-only
training to their graduation curriculum and
urging businesses to train 25 percent of
their employees in the technique, in
addition to those who need full CPR training
because of their role as workplace
responders.
The Red Cross will continue to offer consumers
a choice in their CPR training. In addition
to the new "Citizen CPR" hands-only course,
the Red Cross will continue to offer courses
with a full CPR certification using both
compressions and rescue breaths. That's
because full CPR with rescue breaths is
still best in the health care setting and
for children, adolescents, drowning victims,
or people who collapse due to breathing
problems.
Health care professionals such as doctors,
nurses, paramedics, EMTs and workplace
responders should continue to be certified
in CPR using compressions and rescue
breaths.
Any form of CPR is no substitute for emergency
medical attention. In an emergency
situation, always call 9-1-1, start CPR and
continue it until help arrives.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and
provides emotional support to victims of
disasters; supplies nearly half of the
nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills;
provides international humanitarian aid; and
supports military members and their
families. The Red Cross is a charitable
organization — not a government agency — and
depends on volunteers and the generosity of
the American public to perform its mission.
For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or
join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.
SOURCE American Red Cross
