Health-Wellness
Jennifer Schmid
RN, CFRN, CEN, Trauma Coordinator, Livingston HealthCare
Heart Health Month is a reminder to know our heart-health numbers, rethink our habits, and pay attention to the quiet signals our bodies send. But there is one action that rises above all others in its ability to save a life in an instant: learning Hands Only CPR. Cardiac arrest is sudden, silent, and often fatal, but immediate action from a bystander can change everything.
Cardiac arrest occurs when the heart’s electrical system malfunctions, causing an irregular rhythm that stops blood flow to the brain, lungs, and other vital organs. It is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Each year, more than 350,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests are assessed by emergency medical services. And the reality is stark: about 90% of people who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital do not survive. Those numbers are devastating, but they also reveal that survival often depends on what happens before professional help arrives.
In most cases, the first responder is not a paramedic or a police officer—it’s a passerby; a coworker, neighbor, or family member. About 70% of out of hospital cardiac arrests happen in the home, which means that if you ever need to perform CPR, you will likely be trying to save someone you know and love. Yet only about 46% of cardiac arrest victims receive help from a bystander before EMS arrives. That gap is where Hands Only CPR can make all the difference.
Hands Only CPR is simple, accessible, and proven to be as effective as conventional CPR for teens and adults who collapse in public, at work, or at home.
It has just two steps:
- Call 911.
- Push hard and fast in the center of the chest.
The recommended rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute matches the beat of many familiar songs. Training to music helps people feel more confident and remember the correct rhythm. Whether you think of a disco classic, a pop anthem, or a country favorite, the beat can guide your hands and help keep someone alive until help arrives.
Cardiac arrest does not discriminate between men and women, and neither should lifesaving action. Learning Hands Only CPR, and understanding that it is safe, appropriate, and urgently needed for any person who collapses, helps close a dangerous gender gap. Studies have shown that women are significantly less likely than men to receive bystander CPR. Some bystanders fear causing injury, misinterpret symptoms, or hesitate due to concerns about touching a woman’s chest. These delays can be deadly.
The good news is that learning Hands Only CPR can teach you the basics and give you the confidence to act. It’s a simple skill with extraordinary impact. And while Hands Only CPR is ideal for most adult emergencies, the American Heart Association still recommends CPR with breaths for infants, children, and situations involving drowning, overdose, or breathing related collapse. Hands-Only CPR is a natural introduction to CPR, and the American Heart Association encourages everyone to learn conventional CPR as a next step.
This Heart Health Month, take a moment to learn the technique that could save a life. Find a CPR instructor led course near you. Share it with your family, your coworkers, your community. Because when cardiac arrest strikes, you might be the first responder on the scene, saving a loved one’s life.