Skip to main content

American Heart Association Wants Oregonians to Learn the Two Simple Steps of Hands-Only CPR

May 29, 2014

Do you know the two simple steps of Hands-Only™ CPR? Then you’re ready to help save a life. If you don’t, then the American Heart Association wants you to listen up. 

Just in time for National CPR Awareness Week (June 2-8), the American Heart Association wants to empower Oregonians to learn how to save a life with the two simple steps of Hands-Only CPR:  1) If you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse, call 9-1-1; and 2) Push hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of the classic Bee Gees’ song “Stayin’ Alive.”

Cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death with over 420,000 out-of-hospital cases occurring every year in the United States. When a teen or adult has a cardiac arrest, survival depends on immediately receiving CPR from someone nearby. Survival rates drop as much as 10 percent for every minute that goes by without intervention. The Bees Gees’ hit song "Stayin’ Alive" and the songs in Earworm’s new “Hands-Only CPR Mash-Up” have rates of at least 100 beats per minute, the same rate recommended for performing Hands-Only CPR.

“With Hands-Only CPR, people are more likely to feel comfortable performing it—all you need is a pair of hands and the courage to step up” said Dr. Minot Cleveland, Medical Director of Employee Health for Legacy Health and Oregon’s American Heart Association Advocacy Chairman.  “In fact, Hands-Only CPR performed by bystanders keeps more people alive with good brain function after experiencing a cardiac arrest.”

That’s why the American Heart Association and others are advocating to make Hands-Only CPR a requirement for all Oregon high school students. Doing so would put 45,000 new CPR-trained citizens in communities every year and create a new generation of lifesavers. More than 10 other states, including Washington, have already passed CPR in School laws, and Oregon advocates hope to successfully pass a bill for Hands-Only CPR in 2015.

“Our ability as first responders to keep victims of cardiac arrest from death or severe disability is hugely dependent on bystander CPR,” said Fire Chief Mike Duyck, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue. “Oregon students have the ability, compassion, and smarts to be a lifesaver—they just need to learn the simple and basic skill of Hands-Only CPR.”

In celebration of National CPR Awareness Week, the American Heart Association is also recognizing Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber with a HeartSaver Hero Award for his heroic help in downtown Portland in early May. Upon seeing an unconscious woman, the governor stopped his vehicle to rush to her aid, where he performed lifesaving CPR until first responders arrived. Portland Fire Chief, Erin Jassens, nominated the Governor for the award. Date and time of presentation to be announced.

Hands-Only CPR Demo Video

Eighty percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in private or residential settings. The life you save with CPR will most likely be a loved one. Would you be prepared to act if someone you love or a stranger collapses from cardiac arrest? Watch and learn the simple steps to help save a life with Hands-Only CPR. If you know the two steps to Hands-Only CPR, you're ready to help save a life.

To learn more about the Hands-Only CPR campaign and get ready to save a life visit www.heart.org/handsonlycpr or facebook.com/AHACPR.

Comments