LECOM at Elmira and the American Heart Association teaming up to save lives through CPR

With nearly 3 out of 4 cardiac arrests outside of the hospital occurring in homes, knowing how to perform CPR is critically important[1]. CPR, especially if performed immediately, could double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival[2].

That is why the American Heart Association, the worldwide leader in resuscitation science and education, and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine at Elmira (LECOM at Elmira) are adding lifesavers to the chain of survival by providing Hands-Only CPR education resources through CPR in Schools™ Training Kits.

L-R: Liam Jones, 1st Year Medical Student w/ LECOM; Dr. Constantino Lambroussis, DO, MS, Assistant Director of Osteopathic Principles and Practices for LECOM at Elmira; Ms. Mack, Notre Dame Head of School; Dr. Richard Terry, DO MBA, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs; Athena Bennani, 1st Year Medical Student w/ LECOM

On Wednesday, the Association, along with sponsor LECOM at Elmira, presented a training kit to Notre Dame High School. The training kit enables students to learn the lifesaving skills of CPR in just one class period. Plus, the kit teaches automated external defibrillator (AED) use and choking relief. The easy-to-use kit is designed specifically for the needs of schools. Each kit can train hundreds of people. Students and staff from LECOM at Elmira have also pledged to help students complete full CPR courses.

“LECOM is thrilled to collaborate with the American Heart Association to sponsor CPR mannequins and training for Notre Dame high school students and staff,” said Richard Terry, DO, MBA, associate dean of Academic Affairs at LECOM at Elmira. “Educating the public about CPR training will literally save lives.”

“Unfortunately, too many sudden cardiac arrest victims don’t get the help they need,” said Jami Wood, regional director of the American Heart Association. “Knowing how to respond in a cardiac emergency when seconds matter can be the difference between life and death. Thanks to support from LECOM at Elmira, we will be able to help hundreds of students respond in those crucial first moments after cardiac arrest.”

Quick, simple and easy-to-learn, Hands-Only CPR has been shown to be as effective in the first few minutes as conventional CPR for cardiac arrest at home, at work or in public[3].

For more information on Hands-Only CPR, visit cpr.heart.org.

[1] https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001123?utm_campaign=2023stat-update&utm_source=heart&utm_medium=link&utm_content=statshome

[2] https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001052?utm_campaign=2023stat-update&utm_source=heart&utm_medium=link&utm_content=statshome

[3] https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001052?utm_campaign=2023stat-update&utm_source=heart&utm_medium=link&utm_content=statshome