Hands-Only CPR

   The Scottsdale Fire Department offers free public presentations to learn the new CPR technique for cardiac arrest victims.

   “We’ve been doing this over two years and we’ve trained about 2,500 people,” Patty Jo Angelini, Scottsdale public education officer, said.

   The Hands-Only CPR technique was developed by the American Heart Association. It is easy, safe and does not require mouth-to-mouth contact.

   “This method of doing Hands-Only CPR without the mouth-to-mouth component – our crews first did that and the outcomes were so great – we knew it was important to get that to the community,” Angelini said.

   Private presentations are also available upon request. You may schedule a private presentation for schools, businesses, HOAs, congregations and neighborhoods.

“We go to everyone to make it as convenient as possible,” Angelini said.

According to the American Heart Association, less than one-third of cardiac arrest victims do not receive help from someone nearby because most bystanders are worried they might be doing something wrong or make things worse.

   “If someone is in sudden cardiac arrest , this is the method we want done because you want your loved one to have a second chance of life and this will help give them that second chance,” Angelini said.

   If someone you love has collapsed, the last thing you want is to be helpless.

   The fact is a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) victim is dead. The only question is whether they stay dead.

   Instead of being a bystander, you can make a conscious decision to be a person of action.

   A Hands-Only CPR presentation will provide life-saving information by using a simple three-step process to help increase a person’s chance of survival.

   In the presentation you will learn how to take lead in a SCA situation, how to perform Hands-Only CPR, how to place a quick and effective 9-1-1 call and how to use an Automated External Defibrillator.

   When you have volunteered to participate in one of the presentations you will feel better prepared to act.

   Volunteers have expressed this presentation as a worthwhile experience.

   “I think I would be able to help. Rather than just standing there, I think things would kick in and it certainly has helped. It’s been very worthwhile,” Debbie Frey, a volunteer, said.

   “As I was sitting here, I was thinking of people who have been in this situation, where the person is unresponsive, and I know they don’t know hands-on CPR,” Frey said.

   “You don’t want that. You want to be able to help them and helping them is knowing how to do Hands-Only CPR and knowing how to use an Automated External Defibrillator,” Angelini said.

   Presentations are ongoing throughout the year and class size varies upon the number of audience. You may register online at scottsdaleaz.gov/fire/HandsOnlyCPR.asp.

   No certification cards will be issued at these presentations. For certification courses, please visit ScottsdaleAZ.gov/fire/CPRclasses.