CPR Training Anytime

By Sally Finder-Koziol

Forget signing up for a time-consuming class on the other side of town. You now can learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in less than 25 minutes—in the comfort of your living room.

The American Heart Association (AHA) has unveiled a revolutionary self-directed learning program: CPR Anytime for Family and Friends. For $30, you can purchase a kit that includes an inflatable CPR mannequin, a 22-minute instructional DVD, and a resource booklet. The DVD walks users through each step of the training, from inflating the mannequin to doing chest compressions and rescue breathing.

You keep the kit and are encouraged to share it with family members, friends, and community groups. The AHA’s goal is to increase the number of potential rescuers and reduce the national cardiac arrest survival rate, which now stands at a dismal 5 percent.

“Many people don’t take a CPR course because they don’t have time, are afraid of embarrassing themselves in the classroom, or don’t think they’ll ever have to provide CPR,” says Ed Stapleton, AHA editor for community products. “CPR Anytime removes traditional training obstacles. With CPR Anytime, millions more people trained can result in thousands more lives saved.” To buy a kit, visit www.cpranytime.org, or call 877/242-4277.