350,000 people experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital in the United States each year[1], and only 10% survive. The American Heart Association, a global force changing the future of health for all, is calling on parents and families to make this summer as safe as it is fun by offering four ways to a heart-healthy summer, including learning CPR.
According to the American Heart Association, more than 23,000 children experience cardiac arrest each year, with nearly 40% related to sports and nearly 20% occurring in infants. If performed immediately, CPR can double or even triple a person's chance of survival, yet less than half of people actually receive the help they need from someone nearby. With school out for summer, children will be away from teachers and coaches who might be trained in CPR, making it crucial for parents to know this lifesaving skill.
The Association offers this checklist for a heart-healthy summer and beyond:
- Learn CPR and join the Nation of Lifesavers™. Families can take an online CPR course, watch a 60-second video to learn Hands-Only CPR for adults or watch this video to learn how to save an infant or child using CPR with breaths. Travelers can also get trained in Hands-Only CPR in about five minutes while they wait for their flights with a CPR kiosk
