Learn Hands-Only CPR During American Heart Month To Save Lives Of Loved Ones

By Guest Blogger Madelyn C. Alexander, Marketing Communications Director, American Heart Association Missouri Chapter

The American Heart Association is urging at least one person in every household to commit to learning Hands-Only CPR. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of the death in the U.S.

This year’s American Heart Month 2023 activities are designed to help motivate people to “Be the Beat” needed to keep someone alive by learning the two simple steps that it takes to save a life – call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest.   

More than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the U.S. each year, according to association data.

CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival – which is key since about 90% of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die. Because about 70% of cardiac arrests happen at home, odds are the person who needs CPR will be a family member or friend[1].

Hands-Only CPR is quick and simple to learn and can be performed by any family member or bystanders. 

Hands-Only CPR involves two simple steps and anyone can learn it from a 60-second video available at heart.org/handsonlycpr. You can find an overview of Hands-Only CPR, followed by a practice session and a 30-second test.

• Step 1: If a teen or adult in your home suddenly collapses, call 911 immediately.
• Step 2: Place one hand on top of the other as shown in the video and push hard and fast on the victim’s chest.

The association reports people feel more confident performing Hands-Only CPR and are more likely to remember the correct rate when trained to the beat of a familiar song. All songs in our 'Don't Drop the Beat' playlist are between 100-120 beats per minute, the same rate at which rescuers should perform compressions when administering CPR. The beat of any of several songs including “Stayin’ Alive,” by the Bee Gees, “Crazy in Love,” by Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z, “Hips Don’t Lie,” by Shakira” or “Walk the Line,” by Johnny Cash can “Be the Beat” to save a life. The American Heart Association’s Hands-Only CPR campaign is nationally supported by the Elevance Health Foundation.

Visit heart.org/handsonlycpr to watch and share our Hands-Only CPR instructional video. Be the beat and help save a life.

Editor’s note: Allsup helps individuals with heart disease and severe cardiac medical conditions apply for SSDI and return to work.