INDIANA — More than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States each year, and 90% of people who have a cardiac arrest will not survive. The American Heart Association, dedicated to creating a world of healthier lives for all, is urging parents and families to make this summer as safe as it is fun.
According to the American Heart Association, more than 23,000 children experience cardiac arrest each year, with nearly 40% related to sports and almost 20% occurring in infants. If performed immediately, CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival, yet less than half of people receive the help they need from a bystander. With school out for summer, children will be away from teachers and coaches who might be trained in CPR, making it crucial for parents to know this life-saving skill.
The Association offers this checklist for a heart-healthy summer and beyond:
- Learn CPR and join the Nation of Lifesavers™. In Indiana, families can take an online CPR course, watch a 60-second video to learn Hands-Only CPR for adults, or watch this video to learn how to save an infant or child using CPR with breaths. Travelers can also receive training in Hands-Only CPR in about five minutes while waiting for their flights at an airport kiosk located across the country. For more information on learning CPR, visit heart.org/nation.
- Pick one healthy habit for you and your family to work on. Staying on track with your family’s health goals during summer can be a challenge. Set manageable goals and choose one aspect of physical or mental health to focus on. The American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 are key measures for improving and maintaining cardiovascular health throughout your life: embrace healthy eating, move your body, quit tobacco, sleep well, maintain a healthy weight, control cholesterol, keep blood sugar in check, and know the basics of blood pressure. There’s even a Life’s Essential 8 for kids.
- Plan ahead. Schedule doctor’s appointments and refill prescriptions to make sure you have enough medication to get home safely if you’re traveling. Verify if your summer destination has an emergency plan or a Cardiac Emergency Response Plan (CERP) in place. A CERP establishes specific steps to reduce death from cardiac arrest in any setting – be it a school, community organization, workplace, or sports facility.
- Join a local Heart Walk. Every walker who joins and every dollar donated means more people will be trained in lifesaving CPR, more lifesaving research will be funded, and longer, healthier lives will be enjoyed by everyone. In Indiana, Heart Walks will take place in Indianapolis (Sept. 20) and in Lake County (Sept. 27).
The American Heart Association is committed to turning a nation of bystanders into lifesavers. The long-term goal is to ensure that, in the face of a cardiac emergency, anyone, anywhere, is prepared and empowered to perform CPR and become a vital link in the chain of survival.
For additional ways to raise awareness during National CPR and AED Awareness Week, visit heart.org/nation. The Nation of Lifesavers is nationally sponsored by Walgreens.
