Bystander hands-only CPR emphasized to save lives on World Restart a Heart Day

Aug 25, 2022

Give Hands only CPR to Those at Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death

Melanie and Jeff Baldwin thought it would be simple to place a picture on their wall when they started the job.

The task had abruptly transformed into a life-or-death scenario when Melanie passed out and went blue. Jeff was fortunate to spot his wife's cardiac arrest and understood what to do to save her life. He contacted 911, unlocked their front door, and started performing Hands-Only CPR on her.

Melanie survived despite going 45 minutes without a heartbeat. She has been an enthusiastic supporter of the American Heart Association's CPR teaching initiatives for more than five years now.

She said she imagines being unable to assist someone you know and love as they collapse. We must all become CPR certified.

Oct. 16 is the first-ever World Restart a Heart Day, which aims to encourage bystander CPR all across the world. This awareness day is sponsored by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation, which links the major resuscitation organizations throughout the world. It emphasizes the value of hands-only CPR training and the necessity of quick action to save more lives around the world from cardiac arrest.

The percentage of bystanders performing CPR worldwide ranges from 5% to 80%. According to research, CPR can significantly increase a cardiac arrest victim's probability of survival, especially if it is administered quickly.

The campaign's slogan, "All citizens of the world can save a life," supports the claim that anybody can do Hands-Only CPR since it is straightforward and efficient.

For adult cardiac arrests at home, at work, or in public, hands-only CPR has been found to be just as effective as traditional CPR with rescue breaths added.

Due to uncertainty or fear of harming the patient, many people choose not to perform CPR. The American Heart Association (AHA) suggests Hands-Only CPR, which comprises two simple procedures, to increase the possibility that someone will do CPR in an emergency.

First, dial 911.

Step 2: Until assistance arrives, rapidly and forcefully push in the middle of the chest.

"It takes just a minute to learn Hands-Only CPR and it makes a world of difference," said Nadkarni, of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

The European Parliament contributed to the creation of Restart a Heart Day. The campaign was launched as a global effort for the first time last 2018.

Source: https://www.heart.org/en/news/2018/10/15/bystander-cpr-highlighted-on-world-restart-a-heart-day