Cardiac arrest doesn’t only happen at the hospital. It can occur suddenly and in a variety of public places — like airports.
That’s why the American Heart Association and Anthem Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Anthem, have teamed up to launch hands-only CPR training kiosks in three airports across the United States.
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The kiosks were unveiled today at the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Similar models will open at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport on August 1, and at the Orlando International Airport on August 9.
The kiosks instruct users about the two steps of hands-only CPR: If you see someone suddenly collapse, call 911 and then push quickly on the center of the person’s chest until assistance arrives.
Additionally, the kiosks allow users to practice CPR on a rubber manikin and to participate in a 30-second test. It then gives them feedback on proper hand placement and the correct depth and rate of chest compressions.
The entire instruction process takes approximately five minutes.
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These aren’t the first airport kiosks that Anthem Foundation has supported. Last year, the AHA and Anthem positioned similar models in O’Hare International Airport in Chicago; Indianapolis International Airport; Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport; and Baltimore-Washington International Airport. Over 20,000 travelers have utilized the kiosks at those four airports.
In a statement, Anthem Chief Clinical Officer Craig Samitt commented on the new installments:
Our nation’s airports have proven to be a great way to extend our educational campaign to train people on the lifesaving skill of Hands-Only CPR and, help meet the Association’s goal to double bystander response by 2020. By expanding the availability of the training kiosks, we’re hopeful that more people will feel confident to administer Hands-Only CPR on a stranger or someone they love.
Indeed, knowing CPR is beyond valuable. According to the AHA, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside the hospital every year. CPR can double or triple a victim’s chance of surviving.
With that in mind, multiple states have started requiring the placement of automated external defibrillators in public places like schools, health clubs and day care centers. AED devices guide users — who do not have to have a medical background — through the process of treating someone in cardiac arrest.
Entrepreneurs are also taking note of the significance of CPR. In 2015, a group of developers created Lifesaber, an app for Android Wear that makes it easier to deliver CPR and alert first responders for help.
Editor’s note: This article’s headline originally incorrectly said “American Hospital Association” instead of “American Heart Association.”
Photo: BrianAJackson, Getty Images