Hands-Only CPR

What Are The Numbers

National Heart Attack Alert Program

Hands-Only CPR

Hands-Only CPR is CPR without mouth-to-mouth breaths.  It is recommended for use by people who see an adult collapse in the "out-of-hospital" setting (like at home, at work, in a park).  It consists of two steps:

1. Call 911 (or send someone to do that).
2. Begin providing high-quality chest compressions by pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest with minimal interruptions.

The Today Show aired a great story about a man who saved another man's life after seeing the show's "Staying Alive" CPR segment.  Here is the link to the video of this great follow up story covered by Matt Lauer, after the original Today Show CPR segment:  http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/#33505219.

You can preview the ad materials and see the updated website for Hands-Only CPR at http://media.americanheart.org/handsonlycpr/.  Click on the  "Advertising" tab at the top of the screen to get a preview of the PSAs. 

Other PSAs you might want to check out:

http://www.youtube.com/user/bethebeatchallenge#p/a (Modern bikers)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJZ2f0o_JQc (It's Not Rocket Science)
http://www.youtube.com/user/americanheartassoc#p/a/1/Anh7C0pwepl (Sign Language CPR)

What Are The Numbers

Optimal blood pressure for cardiovascular health and stroke prevention is less than 120 over 80.  (The top number measures pressure when the heart contracts; the bottom, when it relaxes between beats.)  According to national guidelines, blood pressure is divided into the following categories:

Normal:  <120/80

Prehypertension:  120-139 over 80-89

Stage 1 Hypertension:  140-159 over 90-99

Stage 2 Hypertension:  >160 over >100

National Heart Attack Alert Program

The award-winning "Act in Time to Heart Attack Signs" Small Group Session Lesson Plan is available online.  Use it for your next talk at a senior center, hospital, church, adult education class, worksite health and safety meeting, or community group.

The lesson plan includes:

• Talking points on how to recognize and respond to a suspected heart attack.
• Reproducible handouts to increase retention of key information.
• 22 professionally produced overhead masters or PowerPoint slide show to help you present your talk.
• Tips on how to plan and publicize your discussion.

To view and download your copy of the lesson plan, simply click on http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/heart/mi/sm_group.htm.