Red Cross aims to train 5 million in CPR

Date: 11/15/2010

GREATER SPRINGFIELD With the increasing importance of compression only or "hands only" CPR in many cardiac emergencies, the American Red Cross has launched 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.red-cross.org and retails for $9.99.

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.

For more information call 737-4306 or visit www.redcrosscwm.org.