The American Heart Association unveiled a new Hands-Only CPR training kiosk at the Museum of Science on Thursday. Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson MedTech, this state-of-the-art, interactive video game-style kiosk provides visitors with a unique opportunity to learn and practice a lifesaving skill in just minutes—all to the beat of the Bee Gees’ disco classic “Stayin’ Alive.”
The training kiosk features a specially designed rubber torso that allows users to practice chest compressions while receiving real-time feedback on their technique, including hand placement, depth, and rate of compressions. The goal is to empower everyday people to respond confidently and effectively in the event of a cardiac emergency.
“Every second counts in a cardiac emergency and knowing Hands-Only CPR can mean the difference between life and death,” said Karen Whitefield, executive director of the American Heart Association in Greater Boston. “By bringing this interactive training kiosk to the Museum of Science, we’re making it easier than ever for people to gain the confidence and skills needed to save a life.”
Cardiac arrest can strike anyone, anywhere, at any time. More than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of hospitals each year, yet only 1 in 10 victims survive. Performing CPR can double or even triple survival chances, but only 40% of cardiac arrest victims receive bystander CPR before professional help arrives.
By making CPR training free, fun and accessible, this initiative is helping to turn everyday people into lifesavers. Currently, seven in 10 Americans say they feel powerless to act in a cardiac emergency. This kiosk aims to change that by equipping individuals with the knowledge and confidence to perform Hands-Only CPR when it matters most.
“Having this Hands-Only CPR kiosk as part of our Being Human spotlight is a remarkable honor,” said Insoo Hyun, director of the Center for Life Sciences at the Museum of Science. “This interactive kiosk allows our visitors to learn a critical lifesaving skill that embodies the intersection of human biology and medical innovation. It’s particularly meaningful as it empowers our community members to potentially learn to save lives through a simple yet powerful technique.”
Hands-Only CPR involves only chest compressions—no mouth-to-mouth breaths. Research has shown that for a witnessed cardiac arrest of a teen or adult, Hands-Only CPR can be equally effective as conventional CPR in the initial minutes of an emergency.
The key steps are:
- Call 911 immediately if a teen or adult suddenly collapses.
- Push hard and fast in the center of the chest at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute, ensuring a depth of at least two inches. Songs like “Stayin’ Alive” and other popular songs have the right tempo for chest compressions during Hands-Only CPR.
The Hands-Only CPR kiosk, which will be in the museum’s Hall of Human Life exhibit for the next three years, offers a dynamic way to learn this critical skill and reinforces the American Heart Association’s commitment to double the survival rate from cardiac arrest nationwide by 2030 through its Nation of Lifesavers movement.
To learn more about the Hands-Only CPR campaign and learn how to save a life, visit heart.org/nation.