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 Wegmans are adding lifesavers to the chain of survival by providing Hands-Only CPR education resources in the community through CPR & First Aid in Youth Sports™ Training Kits.
On Thursday, the Association, along with Live Fierce. Take Action. sponsor Wegmans, presented 15 local sports and community organizations with the kits. These training kits are designed for youth coaches to ensure they and their community know the lifesaving skills of CPR, how to use an AED, and how to help during sports related emergencies. Each kit can train approximately 300 people per year.
Organizations receiving kits in the Syracuse area include:
- Baldwinsville Youth Soccer Association
- Camillus Baseball & Softball Association
- Cazenovia Baseball Softball Association
- East Syracuse-Minoa Spartans Pop Warner
- Eastwood Youth Soccer
- Epic Comic Cheer
- Liverpool Girls Softball League
- Liverpool Little League
- North Area Youth Soccer
- Midstate Youth Hockey
- Phoenix Little League
- Solvay Tigers Little League
- Syracuse Little League
- Valley Stallions Football & Cheer
- Westcott Community Center
Two more kits will be distributed in the Auburn area, with another organization still to be chosen in Central New York.
“Wegmans is dedicated to supporting the communities we serve,” said Evelyn Ingram, director of community engagement at Wegmans Food Markets. “Through this collaboration with the American Heart Association, we are helping to ensure youth sports organizations are empowered to respond in case of a cardiac emergency.”
As a part of the collaboration between the Association and Wegmans, 300 CPR & First Aid in Youth Sports™ Training Kits will be placed throughout New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Virginia, North Carolina and Washington, DC.
“Unfortunately, too many sudden cardiac arrest victims, including young athletes, don’t get the help they need,” said Lynne Shopiro, president of the American Heart Association advisory board in Syracuse and chief nursing officer at Crouse Health. “Knowing how to respond in a cardiac emergency when seconds matter is literally the difference between life and death. Thanks to support from Wegmans, we will be able to help thousands of people involved with youth organizations 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 this program, visit heart.org/WegmansCPR, or visit cpr.heart.org for more on Hands-Only CPR.
[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