VCU news

By Carissa Etters, Pete Woody and Michelle McLees

Dozens of new lifesavers were added to the community today when the Hands-Only CPR Mobile Tour made a stop at Sports Backers Stadium. The tour, which will make 22 stops across 14 cities this fall, is presented by the American Heart Association (AHA) and the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation. VCU Health partnered with the AHA to host this event in Richmond with Sports Backers.

“Knowing CPR not only increases chance of survival, but it extends our ability to care for a patient by allowing everyone to be part of the treatment team,” said Jeff Ferguson, M.D., of the VCU Health emergency medicine department. “Every minute that passes without CPR being performed, chances of survival decrease by 10 percent. CPR performed within the first few minutes can double or triple a person's chance of survival.”

At the event, participants learned hands-only CPR by creating their own unique song with 100 to 120 beats per minute, which is the rate that CPR chest compressions should be performed. They also received a free CPR Anytime Kit® that they can use to practice and extend the life-saving skill of hands-only CPR to family and friends. Nearly 60,000 people have been trained via the tour to date.

CPR performed within the first few minutes can double or triple a person's chance of survival.

“When a person goes into cardiac arrest, survival depends on immediately getting CPR from someone nearby. That’s why the American Heart Association’s Hands-Only CPR Mobile Tour supported by the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation is so important,” said Michelle McLees, director of communications for the AHA in Central Virginia. “The tour is part of an ongoing campaign by the AHA and the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation to help raise awareness about Hands-Only CPR as a lifesaving method and to increase the likelihood of people performing CPR in an emergency.”

More than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of the hospital each year. With 70 percent of all out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happening at home, a person will likely be trying to save the life of someone they know and love if they’re called on to perform this critical skill. Hands-only CPR has two simple steps:  if you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse, call 911. Then, push hard and fast in the center of the chest until help arrives.

“We have seen several instances at some of our events over the years where quick actions from participants with CPR training helped in cardiac arrest situations,” said Megan Schultz, event director for Sports Backers. “The more people that have these life-saving skills the better, so we’re excited to partner with VCU Health, the American Heart Association, and the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation for this event.”