CPR/AED Awareness Week begins on June 1 – Fire Line

It is important to be prepared for sudden emergencies such as sudden cardiac arrest. Around 70% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home so it’s important to know what to do if this were to happen. A cardiac patient’s chance of becoming a long-term survivor are more than doubled if a someone on the scene administers prompt CPR.

Administering hands-only CPR (without breaths) is a simple technique that only takes a few minutes to learn.

If you see someone collapse, follow these steps:

1. Call 911 – Give specific information to the dispatcher, starting with the location. Is an AED available? If so, send someone to retrieve it and use it as soon as you can.
2. Make sure the scene is safe
3. Quickly determine if the person needs CPR – If the person is not responsive or not breathing normally – tap them on the shoulder and shout, “Are you ok. Are you ok?” If the person doesn’t move, speak, blink, or otherwise react, then he or she is not responding.
4. Begin Chest Compressions – Use two hands, with straight arms, and push down hard and fast in the center of the chest. Make sure compressions are at least 2-inches deep, and are at the rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute.
5. Don’t stop compressions until help arrives or take turns with someone if you get tired

Help us spread awareness during this year’s National CPR/AED Awareness Week by sharing this information with at least one family member or friend.

CPR/AED Resources

Learn about and download the PulsePoint app and how it alerts community members when CPR is needed in real-time

Hands-only CPR handout in 15 languages

CPR Video in several languages