Push to Boost Bystander CPR in Pasadena Aims to Save Lives

When someone collapses from cardiac arrest, performing CPR can double or triple their chance of survival. Now the city of Pasadena is teaming up with the American Heart Association and local hospitals in a major push to boost bystander CPR rates.

The goal is to train as many residents as possible in the potentially lifesaving technique. The initiative was spurred by studies showing that immediate CPR can dramatically improve outcomes for cardiac arrest victims. But bystander intervention still remains low in many communities.

The American Heart Association reports that about 70% of cardiac arrests happen at home, and approximately 90% of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die. Immediate CPR dramatically improves survival rates.

Hands-only CPR, which involves calling 911 and performing chest compressions, is highlighted as a simple and effective method to keep blood circulating until professional help arrives. The American Heart Association also encourages the public to join the “Nation of Lifesavers” and provides training and information on CPR certification.

The Pasadena Fire Department and Huntington Hospital have organized hands-only CPR training sessions for the community, aiming to increase the bystander CPR rate, which currently stands at only 32% for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims. The training, which is free to the public, focuses on teaching the basics and proper techniques of hands-only CPR, to empower more individuals to act in a cardiac emergency.

The importance of bystander CPR is further underscored by research from Denmark, which shows that bystander CPR is linked to improved survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims. The study found that initiatives to promote CPR, including mandatory CPR training in schools and for driver’s license applicants, as well as the widespread availability of CPR instruction kits and automated external defibrillators, led to a significant increase in the proportion of patients who received CPR from a bystander and improved cardiac arrest survival rates.

The low rate of CPR certification among the general population, with only 3.5% of people trained in CPR annually, is also a concern. The American Heart Association and other organizations stress the importance of increasing the number of individuals trained in CPR to improve the chances of survival for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims.