According to the American Heart Association (AHA), almost 80 percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur at home and are witnessed by a family member. They go on to warn that only 6.4 percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims survive because most of the people witnessing the event are people who do not know how to perform CPR. Bystanders may feel unable to help because of fear they may have incorrect technique or even more concerning, make things worse.

To help simplify the CPR process and make more individuals comfortable in helping out, the AHA created Hands-Only CPR. Hands-Only™ CPR is comprised of 2 simple steps that even the non-CPR trained individual can do while waiting for help to arrive. If you find yourself in a situation where someone needs CPR immediately, follow these simple steps:

When an adult suddenly collapses and is unresponsive, trained or untrained bystanders should:

1.Call 9-1-1

2.Push hard and fast in the center of the chest

Be sure to position yourself directly over the victim and push hard and fast (100 compression/minute) until help arrives. Studies show these two steps, called Hands-Only™ CPR, can be as effective as conventional CPR.

For an informational video and other CPR resources, visit Hands-Only™CPR or CPR Anytime.

Remember the sooner CPR is initiated in a cardiac arrest victim, the better their chances of survival. If you happen to find yourself in an unfortunate situation where your CPR skills may be needed, please remember the Hands-Only™ CPR technique and don’t be afraid to jump in and help out!


Tana N. Kaefer, PharmD