Make the Most of Your Layover by Learning Hands-Only CPR

INDIANAPOLIS, IN--With 58 million people expected to fly this holiday season, increased activity at airports and the perhaps the unanticipated layover can likely be expected. Travelers who find themselves with time on their hands while waiting on their flight can make the most out of delays by learning the lifesaving skill of Hands-Only CPR at eight interactive kiosks located at several airports nationwide, nationally supported by the Anthem Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Anthem, Inc., in partnership with the American Heart Association, the world’s leading voluntary health organization devoted to fighting cardiovascular disease.

Since 2016, the Hands-Only CPR training kiosk program has provided thousands of travelers with access to an innovative way to quickly and easily learn a skill they can use to save the life of loved ones or even a stranger in the event of a cardiac arrest emergency outside of the hospital. The Hands-Only CPR kiosk has a touch screen with a short video, available in both the Spanish or English language. The video provides an overview of Hands-Only CPR, followed by a practice session and a 30-second test. With the help of a practice manikin, or rubber torso, the kiosk gives feedback about the depth and rate of compressions, as well as proper hand placement – factors that influence the CPR quality and effectiveness.

“Our nation’s airports have proven to be a great way to reach thousands of people and provide greater access to learn the life-saving skill of Hands-Only CPR,” said Craig Samitt, MD, chief clinical officer at Anthem, Inc. “Since the launch of the training kiosk program, over 56,000 people have learned this valuable skill in less than five minutes. In doing so they have taken the time to learn a skill that prepares them to save someone’s life and are helping to increase the number of bystander CPR response rate.”

Each year, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside the hospital. A clinical study published in the journal Resuscitation, which evaluated data from nearly 10,000 patients found that the highest frequency of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest occurs during December. The study evaluated the data related to nearly 10,000 patients in the United States and Canada. These findings underscore the importance of learning Hands-Only CPR particularly during a time of year when cardiac emergencies are more likely to occur.

“Every second counts when a person suffers an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest,” said Clifton Callaway, M.D., Ph.D., a volunteer on the Association’s Emergency Cardiovascular Care committee and professor of emergency medicine at the University of Pittsburgh. “Yet most people do not act because they don’t recognize what is happening or lack confidence to start CPR. But it’s imperative that anyone who sees a person collapse responds immediately and performs CPR or Hands-Only CPR until emergency responders arrive. The kiosk training will help laypersons understand how simple Hands-Only CPR is and provide a comfort level to become rescuers. Seconds can make the difference for somebody they know or love, and waiting for professional responders to arrive may be too long.”

The Association has a mission goal to increase the bystander CPR response rate from 31 percent to 62 percent by 2020. The Hands-Only CPR kiosk program with support from the Foundation is one important way that the Association aims to achieve this goal by helping bystanders learn this skill.

Flight delays and cancellations can happen at any time, and during the holidays the chances increase by almost 11%. To make the most of the holiday layover, take the time to learn this lifesaving technique at the Hands-Only CPR kiosks at the following airports:

• O’Hare International Airport (ORD): Terminal 2 by Gates E1, E2 and E3
• Indianapolis International Airport (IND): Terminal A, Gate 8
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL): Concourse A between Gates A11 and A15
• Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI): Concourse B, Gate B7
• Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE): Behind Central Checkpoint across from the Interfaith Center
• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport (CVG): Concourse A near Gates A6 and A7
• Orlando International Airport (MCO): Outside the Food Court, Near the Shuttle to Gates 70-129
• John Wayne Airport (SNA): Terminal A, Gate 8

In addition to the eight Anthem supported Hands-Only CPR training kiosks, additional kiosks can be found in select locations across the country.

Hands-Only CPR has been shown to be as effective as conventional CPR for cardiac arrest when it occurs in public. CPR can double or triple the chance of the victim’s survival. Since 2012, nearly 9.7 million people have been trained in Hands-Only CPR via events, training kiosks and video education with the Foundation’s support. If your flight cancels or delays, take the time to learn Hands-Only CPR at a nearby kiosk and truly make the most of your holiday layover. To learn more about the Hands-Only CPR campaign and be prepared to save a life, visit heart.org/handsonlycpr.

SOURCE: American Heart Association and Anthem Foundation