American Heart Association, Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster donate CPR training kits in Lebanon County

The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, recently donated 20 CPR Anytime training kits to First Aid and Safety Patrol. The donation was made possible with support from Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster, as part of their sponsorship of the Lebanon Heart Ball.

“OAL has a long-standing commitment and is highly connected to the communities we call home,” said Bill Weik, CEO of Orthopedic Associates of Lancaster. “Helping to connect the American Heart Association’s CPR training resources with First Aid and Safety Patrol will help get these lifesaving skills into the hands of more families in Lebanon County. OAL is proud to support the American Heart Association and its organization’s benefits to so many in need in their work both nationally and internationally.“

Developed by the American Heart Association, the Adult & Child CPR Anytime® Kit contains everything you need to learn the lifesaving skills of CPR, AED awareness, and choking relief in about 20 minutes in the comfort and privacy of your home or workplace. The kit is completely portable, so it is easy to share among families and can be used to train small groups and community organizations. The kit includes an English and Spanish bilingual instructional DVD, bilingual skills reminder card, Mini Anne® CPR personal manikin, and manikin care supplies.

CPR – or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation – is an emergency lifesaving procedure performed when the heart stops beating. Only about 45 percent of people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest receive the immediate help they need before professional help arrives. Immediate CPR can double or triple chances of survival after cardiac arrest. If someone is called on to give CPR in an emergency, they will most likely be trying to save the life of someone they love: a child, a spouse, a parent or a friend.

“Under the best circumstances, it can take our ambulances upwards of five to ten minutes to arrive on the scene of a cardiac arrest,” said Gregg Smith, executive director of First Aid and Safety Patrol. “Many times, the difference between the victim living and dying, depends on bystanders doing CPR prior to EMS arrival.”

The American Heart Association trains more than 23 million people globally every year by educating healthcare providers, caregivers, and the general public on how to respond to cardiac arrest and first aid emergencies. To learn more about CPR training, visit heart.org/cpr.