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It can be frightening to witness a cardiac arrest, but don't be afraid to intervene - two simple acts can save a life. According to the American Heart Association, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital or emergency department each year. If a person goes into cardiac arrest, quick cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can be the difference between life and death. In fact, performing CPR immediately after a cardiac arrest can double or triple a victim's chances of survival. 

Many people still believe that effective CPR needs both mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions, and they may be afraid to administer it, but this is not the case. Hands-Only CPR has been demonstrated to be as effective as traditional CPR in the first few minutes after a cardiac arrest in the house, office, or public area until more advanced help arrives. "By providing individuals with Hands-Only CPR training, they discover how simple the procedure is and gain comfort, which will help them overcome issues that cause reticence to respond in an emergency," says Raina Merchant, Chair of the American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care Committee.

Hands-only CPR consists of simply two simple steps. - First and foremost, dial 911. - Second, push forcefully and fast in the center of the individual's chest who is having a cardiac arrest. How hard should I push? At least two inches. How quickly? That's simple. Use the beat of a well-known song with a tempo of 100 to 120 beats per minute.

For example, "Stayin' Alive," a classic disco hit can help you stay on track, but any song with a similar tempo will suffice. The American Heart Association has partnered with the Anthem Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Anthem, Inc., in a public service campaign, "The Power is in Your Hands," to encourage everyone to learn Hands-Only CPR. "Approximately 70% of cardiac arrests occur at home, and immediate CPR can double or even triple chances of survival," said Shantanu Agrawal, M.D., Chief Health Officer at Anthem, Inc. 

"The Anthem Foundation, in collaboration with the American Heart Association, continues to work to increase the number of people who learn Hands-Only CPR. We can help increase the number of people who are prepared to respond in an emergency by increasing access to training; for some, this could mean saving the life of someone they care about." The American Heart Association provides a 90-second Livestream instructional video demonstration of Hands-Only CPR and a new CPR first-aid app that anyone can download to their phone. For more information, go to heart.org/handsonlycpr.

Source- NewsUSA