CPR saves lives. When administered immediately after cardiac arrest, a person’s chance of survival can double or triple. However, 70 percent of Americans may feel helpless to act during a cardiac emergency because they either do not know how to administer CPR or their training has significantly lapsed.
Earlier this month, American Heart Association Philadelphia and Independence Blue Cross unveiled Philadelphia’s second Hands-Only CPR kiosk at the Penn Medicine Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine. In under five minutes, the CPR kiosk helps users understand how they can immediately help a person who experiences a cardiac emergency outside of a hospital.
This specially designed kiosk has a touch screen with a brief video that explains how to perform life-saving Hands-Only CPR, followed by a practice session and a 30-second CPR test. With the help of a practice manikin, the kiosk gives feedback in real time about the depth and rate of compressions and proper hand placement, key factors that influence the effectiveness of CPR.
Philadelphia’s second kiosk was made possible by Independence Blue Cross. AHA Philadelphia is thankful to Independence Blue Cross Executive Vice President of Facilitated Health Networks and Chief Medical Officer Rich Snyder, and his entire team for their generosity and commitment to training more lifesavers in communities across our region. Special thanks also go to the University of Pennsylvania Health System Chief Executive Officer Kevin Mahoney and the Penn Medicine team for graciously hosting the kiosk and the ribbon-cutting event.
Click here to view local station, CBS Philadelphia’s coverage of the unveiling and the heartfelt story of a survivor who was saved by CPR after going into cardiac arrest while coaching a youth soccer team.