To save more lives from cardiac arrest, the American Heart Association (AHA) operates Hands-Only CPR kiosks in high-traffic places, such as airports, museums, and other locations to teach the general public how easy it is to learn this lifesaving skill.  Through the support of sponsor Northside Hospital, the third American Heart Association CPR kiosk in Atlanta was placed at the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC) on Nov. 29 to teach convention visitors and team members how to save a life when an emergency happens.

Every year, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of the hospital and more than 20 percent occur in public places like airports, casinos, sporting facilities and workplaces. The Hands-Only CPR education available at each kiosk helps users understand how they can immediately help a person who experiences a cardiac emergency outside of a hospital.

The kiosk features a touch screen with a video program that provides a brief introduction and overview of Hands-Only CPR, followed by a practice session and a 30-second test session. With the help of a practice manikin, or a rubber torso, the kiosk gives feedback about the depth and rate of compressions and proper hand placement – factors that influence the effectiveness of CPR.  The entire training takes about five minutes.

“Cardiac arrest remains a leading cause of death in the United States, and survival depends on immediately receiving CPR from someone nearby,” said Hank Linginfelter, chairman of the Metro Atlanta American Heart Association advisory board. “Although in-person training is still the best way to learn the skills necessary for high-quality CPR, the kiosk will provide training that could make a difference and provide help in an emergency. More than a million people visit the Georgia World Congress Center annually, think about how many life savers we could train.”

“Time is critical in a cardiac emergency – every minute matters,” said Dr. Jack Chen, Interventional Cardiology Medical Director, Northside Hospital. “We are proud to partner with the American Heart Association and the Georgia World Congress Center Authority to make CPR training more accessible, so that treatment can be started sooner, and more lives are saved.”

The two simple steps of Hands-Only CPR are: if a bystander sees a teen or adult collapse, he or she should first call 9-1-1. Then push hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of “Stayin’ Alive,” which has 100 beats per minute (bpm). The Bee Gees’ song has the minimum rate you should push on the chest during Hands-Only CPR.

“The American Heart Association and Northside Hospital are helping to empower visitors to the Georgia World Congress Center Authority’s campus to feel comfortable and confident helping a fellow colleague, family member, friend or stranger in need,” added the Georgia World Congress Center Authority’s chief commercial officer Joe Bocherer. “We appreciate their efforts to spread these critical life-saving skills as this kiosk is an important addition to our facility and yet another example of how we are committed to being the best destination in the industry.”

Anthem Foundation is the American Heart Association’s national partner and founding partner of the kiosk program.  CPR kiosks are also located in Concourse A at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and The Home Depot Store Support Center.  The American Heart Association’s goal is to train more than 22 million people in CPR each year.