INDIANAPOLIS – African-Americans are about twice as likely to experience cardiac arrest at home, work or in a public place as caucasians and their survival rates are also twice as low as that of caucasians’. That makes it all the more important to ensure Hoosiers learn hands-only CPR.
Indiana University Health Cardiovascular understands performing CPR can be intimidating, but a modified – and just as effective – method of CPR can be simple: Eliminate the mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and perform chest compressions to the beat of a classic disco song.
Hands-only CPR has been shown to have as much as a 60 percent higher survival rate than conventional CPR. It’s simpler than conventional CPR and eliminates second-guessing of breath-to-compression ratios. The American Heart Association notes hands-only CPR consists of three steps:
1. Position the person face-up on a hard, flat surface
2. Place one hand in the center of the victim’s chest and interlock the other on top
3. Start compressing the chest hard and fast to the beat of the Bee Gees hit “Stayin’ Alive” until the person starts to breathe or move, or medical staff arrives (the song is the equivalent of 100 beats per minute and, thus, ideal for CPR)
“Hands-only CPR is much easier to learn than conventional CPR and the more people you have trained in CPR, the better your chance of surviving a cardiac emergency,” said cardiologist Dr. Ed Harlamert, with IU Health Saxony Hospital. “IU Health encourages all Hoosier adults to learn this very basic, but very valuable and life-saving skill.”
IU Health shares the American Heart Association and Red Cross’ goal that at least one person in every home is trained in CPR because immediate, effective CPR can more than double a victim’s chance of survival. More than 300,000 people experience sudden cardiac arrest outside a hospital setting each year and less than 8 percent survive.
