To Your Health: ‘Stayin’ Alive’ with hands-only CPR
By the American Heart Association June 12, 2012 3:16PM
Jennifer Coolidge joins the American Heart Association’s Take 60 Seconds to Keep Chicago-Area Residents “Stayin’ Alive” with Hands-Only CPR campaign. | Supplied Photo
Updated: July 14, 2012 6:25AM
Remember disco?
The American Heart Association and comedic actress Jennifer Coolidge are pumping new life into a ’70s disco classic to help save lives.
The Bee Gees’ hit — which is the near-perfect rate for doing chest compressions during CPR — is a centerpiece of the American Heart Association’s new Hands-Only CPR awareness campaign.
The campaign asks Americans to take 60 seconds to learn the life-saving skill online. The “how to” video can be viewed at www.facebook.com/AHAChicago.
Supported by a $4.5 million grant from the WellPoint Foundation, the campaign will contribute to the American Heart Association’s goal to double survival from cardiac arrest by 2020.
Coolidge, whose work includes CBS’ “Two Broke Girls” and several films including “Best in Show,” “American Pie” and “Legally Blonde,” stars in the American Heart Association’s humorous new public service announcement to teach everyone the two easy steps of Hands-Only CPR.
If a teen or adult suddenly collapses, call 911 and then push hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of “Stayin’ Alive” until help arrives.
“It seems almost impossible to me that the whole world doesn’t know CPR. I learned Hands-Only CPR while shooting the American Heart Association’s new PSA, and now I know how to save a life,” said Coolidge. “Who would’ve thought? I can save a life.”
Nearly 400,000 Americans suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest every year, and almost 90 percent of them die because they don’t receive immediate CPR from someone on the scene. When begun immediately, CPR can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.
“Our mission is to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families, so it’s a natural fit that we would support the American Heart Association’s Hands-Only CPR campaign,” said Dr. Sam Nussbaum, executive vice president, clinical health policy and chief medical officer for WellPoint.
“Too many people die unnecessarily each year from sudden cardiac arrest, and we are committed to helping improve this public health crisis,” he said.
The American Heart Association works to save people from heart disease and stroke — America’s No. 1 and No. 4 killers. For more information call (312) 346-4675 or visit www.heart.org/Chicago.
