Witnessing a cardiac arrest can be frightening, but don’t be afraid to take action — two simple steps can save a life.Each year, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital or emergency department, according to the American Heart Association.
When someone experiences cardiac arrest, immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can make the difference between life and death. In fact, immediate CPR can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.Many people still think that effective CPR involves mouth-to-mouth resuscitation as well as chest compressions, and they may be hesitant to perform it, but that is not the case.Hands-Only CPR has been shown to be as effective as the conventional CPR for cardiac arrests in the home, office, or in public places in the first few minutes until more advanced help arrives.
