American Heart Association encourages all to learn CPR

The American Heart Association is encouraging everyone to attend a local CPR class and learn how to administer the life-saving procedure.

Nearly 383,000 out of hospital sudden cardiac arrests occur annually, and 70 percent of Americans are unable to act due to not knowing how to administer the procedure or their training has significantly lapsed.

Immediate CPR provided can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival, but only 32 percent of cardiac arrest victims get CPR from a bystander, according to the American Heart Association. Only eight percent of individuals who suffer cardiac arrest outside the hospital survive.

The American Heart Association states that 88 percent of cardiac arrests occur at home, so the life people may be saving is that of a member of their own family.

To sign up for a CPR class visit www.heart.org/cpr .

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