Sailors and Civilians assigned to Commander, Navy Region Southwest (CNRSW) received free Hands-Only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training during Sidewalk CPR Day, June 5.
Members from CNRSW’s Federal Fire Department set up an information booth and provided Sailors and civilians with CPR techniques and hands-on training using manikins.
Sidewalk CPR Day is national campaign by the American Heart Association, said Chief Mary Anderson, emergency medical technician-paramedic.
“Its goal is to teach as many people as possible how to save a life by using Hands-Only CPR. San Diego County’s goal this year is to train 3,500 people,” said Anderson.
Anderson explained that Hands-Only CPR is a safe, effective and easy way for people to learn. It is a method of applying chest compressions without giving mouth-to-mouth breaths. Hands-Only CPR can be used on anyone who is unresponsive and not breathing.
The lessons required no appointment and only took between five and 10 minutes.
According to the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, each year this emergency affects the lives of 424,000 people in the U.S. More than 90 percent of those victims die. When bystanders intervene by giving CPR before medical help arrives, 40 percent of the victims survive.
[mappress] Press Release, June 06, 2014; Image: US Navy