Members of the Duke University men's basketball and football teams participated in American Heart Association Hands-Only CPR trainings on July 22, acquiring essential skills to respond to cardiac emergencies. This initiative addresses a critical public health issue, as nearly 9 out of 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die due to lack of immediate CPR. The training emphasizes the importance of bystander intervention during these life-threatening events. Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, highlighted the crucial role of CPR and automated external defibrillator use in saving lives, noting the program's objective to empower more individuals with these vital skills.
The Duke student-athletes have joined the American Heart Association's Nation of LifesaversTM initiative, which aims to establish CPR and AED education as fundamental components in communities across the country. The Association, recognized as a leader in resuscitation science, underscores the necessity of CPR knowledge, particularly since most cardiac arrests occur in home settings. Kevin Siesel, Duke University's head football athletic trainer, commended the training for its engaging approach and for empowering the team, reinforcing the partnership's significance in cultivating a community prepared to act during emergencies.
Hands-Only CPR represents a simplified version of traditional CPR that proves effective during the initial minutes of a cardiac emergency and is designed to be accessible for everyone to learn. The American Heart Association offers comprehensive resources for acquiring this critical skill through their official website at https://www.heart.org. The organization advocates for widespread CPR education to improve community health and safety outcomes nationwide. Additional training materials and information about the Nation of Lifesavers initiative are available at https://cpr.heart.org.
