It’s CPR Week!

Every year during the first week of June (1–7), the American Heart Association reminds us of the importance of learning how to properly and safely administer CPR.

CPR Week is an annual event where everyone has an opportunity to learn more about what CPR is, how it saves lives, and what CPR awareness can do to protect more Americans every year.

Instructors and the staff of AHA Training Centers are committed to equipping as many people as possible with these life-saving skills. We’re proud to spread the word about this year’s campaign and help encourage more individuals working in or interested in the healthcare sphere to receive CPR training. The hope is that increasing the number of individuals qualified to administer CPR in turn increases bystander CPR response, in turn resulting in more lives saved.

Why Learn About CPR?

According to the American Heart Association, “Cardiac arrest is an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and disrupts the flow of blood to the brain, lungs and other organs.” Cardiac arrest can be fatal and is a common cause of death: more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of hospitals every year in the U.S., and 90 percent of the people who suffer them die.

Immediate administration of CPR can be the sole life-saving factor when cardiac arrest occurs. Performed within a few minutes of arrest, proper CPR can double or even triple the odds of surviving this cardiac event.

The New 2016 CPR Week Toolkit from the American Heart Association.

For this year’s campaign, the AHA, in conjunction with Anthem Foundation, has created an entertaining and engaging Hands-Only CPR Demo Video aimed at Latino Millennials. The new training video and other courses, printables, and resources are available online at HEART.org.