Huntington Health and Pasadena Fire Department Train Over 180 People in Hands-Only CPR

On June 6, Huntington Health, an affiliate of Cedars-Sinai, and Pasadena Fire Department hosted a free, Hands-Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training at the Paseo Colorado in Pasadena. In less than five minutes per demonstration, the team taught the basic and proper techniques of Hands-Only CPR to over 180 people.

According to the American Heart Association, cardiac arrest – an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) and disrupts the flow of blood to the brain, lungs and other organs – is a leading cause of death. Each year, more than 350,000 EMS-assessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States.  

“A cardiac event most often happens in the home, so it’s important to be prepared to help our family members or friends when they need us the most,” said Jennifer Van Slyke, manager, prehospital program, Huntington Health. “Hands-Only CPR is a simple, life-saving skill. If you are with someone experiencing a cardiac medical emergency, be sure to first call 9-1-1 and then immediately begin chest compressions until help arrives.”

The dedicated Huntington Health team and firefighters demonstrated the proper chest compression techniques – done to the beat of the famous Bee Gee’s song “Stayin’ Alive,” allowing participants to feel the quick rhythm required to effectively treat a victim of cardiac arrest for a minimum of sixty seconds at best. When performing CPR, the AHA recommends pushing on the chest as a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute.

Thank you, once again, to Pasadena Fire Department and the City of Pasadena for supporting this important community training.

To learn more about Hands-Only CPR, please visit: heart.org/CPR