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American Heart Association Pushes For Hands-Only CPR

by Yuliya Talmazan | October 28, 2009 at 02:02 pm

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The American Heart Association (AHA) is making a push for hands-only CPR. The typical CPR procedure involves resuscitating an unconscious person using one's hands and mouth. But, the AHA is suggesting CPR should be hands-only, with no mouth-to-mouth contact involved.

The association says some people stay away from performing a potentially life-saving CPR because they are not comfortable with mouth-to-mouth contact.

Now, bystanders are just asked to call 9-1-1 and perform CPR on a victim's chest with their hands until help arrives.

"Hands-Only CPR is an easy and effective technique that has the potential to save lives every day if we can educate more Americans about it and reduce their fears and hesitation," said Peggy Conlon, president and CEO of the Ad Council.

"For years the survival rate from sudden cardiac arrest has been abysmal," said Clyde Yancy, M.D., American Heart Association president. "Bystanders hold the key to increasing survival. We hope this campaign will break through the barriers people have when they see someone in cardiac arrest – so that anyone who hears this message can help save a life."

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a211423

at 14:09 on October 28th, 2009

With concerns of disease transmission when in close contact with blood; tissue; saliva; I think this is an excellent change in policy by the American Heart Association.

jefhow22

at 16:53 on October 28th, 2009

Having successfully performed this life saving procedure during my career in the fire service I would hope that those individuals that are certified in CPR would continue to still use the former technic if it becomes the standard. Often times those individuals that are trained in first aid will put their own health at risk before standing by waiting for someone else to act or perform half-hearted attempts. Consider the 2 year old toddler that fell into a swimming pool or the the grandmother coding at the family reunion. It seems bizarre to me that one would hesitate to perform mouth to mouth on a human being but not waste a second in delievering mouth to nose on the family dog.

a211423

at 19:24 on October 28th, 2009

From what is written here, the new policy is directed at the public at large and not health professionals or first responders.

If this policy will encourage the public to at least perform the hands on CPR, rather than doing nothing, then its a positive step. There must be some statistics regarding this, or they would not have made this change.

Yes, I agree its beyond comprehension that anyone would stand by and do nothing in an emergency, but apparently it is happening.