Listen to Your Heart: Hands-Only CPR Saves More Lives
An IU Health West Release
Recent studies show that surviving cardiac arrest with healthy brain function improves dramatically when bystanders focus CPR efforts on chest compressions without mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing.
“Out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest affects nearly 300,000 people a year, with roughly only six to eight percent of those people surviving the event,” says Josh Halon, director of cardiovascular services at Indiana University Health West Hospital. “We know that the majority of the time it happens in the home or out in the community. You are much more likely to have to perform CPR on a loved one. Being able to respond quickly and appropriately can make the difference between saving a life and losing your mother, son, daughter or best friend.”
Even with prior training, many people do not feel they have the experience to perform emergency CPR or are too scared they will hurt the victim. The steps to perform “hands-only” CPR are simple and can make a life-saving difference. Chest compressions alternating with rescue breathing remains the standard for trained rescuers, but recommendations for untrained bystanders switched to hands-only chest compressions in 2010.
Hands-Only CPR
The hands-only CPR method involves no mouth-to-mouth contact with the victim and eliminates the second-guessing of breath-to-compression ratios. Instead, hands-only CPR incorporates a continuous, rapid flow of hard chest compression.
“CPR is simple and something that can be learned in about 30 minutes.” says Halon. “I believe that having the knowledge that can help save someone's life is the best 30-minute investment you can make with your time.”
Steps to Perform Hands-Only CPR
When an adult or teenager collapses due to sudden cardiac arrest:
- Call 9-1-1
- Position the victim face-up on a hard, flat surface
- Place one hand in the center of the victim’s chest and interlock the other hand on top of the first
- Start Chest Compressions: Press hard and fast in the center of the victim’s chest
- Continue chest compressions until the victim starts to breathe or emergency medical respondents arrive
The American Heart Association suggests that you perform chest compression to the beat of the Bee Gee’s hit disco song “Stayin’ Alive.” (The song has more than 100 beats per minute, which is the adequate rate to perform compressions.)
Indiana University Health shares the American Heart Association and Red Cross goal that at least one person in every home is trained to perform CPR. Join the highly-trained clinical experts from IU Health West Hospital in recognizing February as Heart Health Month by participating in some of the following “Listen to your Heart” events:
Week One at West "Heart Emergencies"
Wednesday, February 6
IU Health West
11:30 am
Reservations required. Please call 317.217.3627.
Listen to Your Heart Screening & Hands-Only CPR Demo
Wednesday, February 13
Brownsburg Meadows
9 am - 11 am
Free blood pressure screenings will be available, as well as hands-only CPR demos.
Listen to Your Heart Screening & Hands-Only CPR Demo
Thursday, February 14
IU Health West
11 am - 1 pm
Stop by the hospital's garden level corridor for free blood pressure screenings and hands-only CPR demos.
Listen to Your Heart Screening & Hands-Only CPR Demo
Wednesday, February 20
Plainfield Recreation & Aquatic Center
1 pm - 3 pm
Free blood pressure screenings will be available, as well as hands-only CPR demos.
"Heart Emergencies" (Free Community Education Opportunity)
Thursday, February 28
Plainfield Recreation & Aquatic Center
7 pm - 8 pm
IU Health West will feature a special evening presentation on Heart Emergencies. This FREE health education seminar is available simply by calling 317.217.3627 to make a reservation.