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Heart Assn. Wants You to Learn CPR

Just 15-30% of cardiac arrest victims get lifesaving treatment

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 15, 2008 3:31 PM CST
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(Newser) – Spurred by the "woefully inadequate" number of cardiac arrest victims who receive CPR from a bystander—only 15% to 30%—the American Heart Association is calling for a push to increase and improve CPR training in the US, Reuters reports. The low CPR rate is an “enormous missed opportunity to save lives,” said an AHA doctor.

Communities with effective CPR training have raised survival rates of people who suffer sudden cardiac arrest associated with ventricular fibrillation from the national average, 6%, to as high as 74%, the association says. "Quick initiation of CPR, as well as providing high-quality CPR, is crucial to survival," the organization adds.

The American Heart Association wants to improve the survival rate from sudden cardiac arrests by increasing and improving CPR training. Studies show that every minute without CPR can cut a cardiac arrest victim's chances of survival by up to 10%.
The American Heart Association wants to improve the survival rate from sudden cardiac arrests by increasing and improving CPR training. Studies show that every minute without CPR can cut a cardiac arrest...   (KRT Photos)
Scouts practice their CPR skills. The American Heart Association wants to improve the rate of cardiac arrest victims who get CPR from bystanders.
Scouts practice their CPR skills. The American Heart Association wants to improve the rate of cardiac arrest victims who get CPR from bystanders.   (KRT Photos)
Stephanie Musselman, left, and Robert Spees practice CPR on a dummy at a class at the Centura Health EMS Education Building, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Stephanie Musselman, left, and Robert Spees practice CPR on a dummy at a class at the Centura Health EMS Education Building, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.   (KRT Photos)
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heart • heart attack • cardiac arrest • American Heart Association • CPR

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