During National Safety month and week (June 1-7), Dignity Health Marian Regional Medical Center is joining communities across the nation in raising awareness about the importance of CPR and how it can help save lives.
Marian Regional Medical Center will be offering free Hands-Only CPR demonstrations at San Luis Obispo’s Famous Farmer’s Market, 6-9 p.m. Thursday, June 6. The Dignity Health booth will be in the center of the Farmer’s Market on Chorro and Higuera Street.
Cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the U.S., claiming the lives of 350,000 Americans each year. Of these cardiac arrests, 70% occur in homes, where immediate action is crucial.
However, less than half of victims receive the immediate help they need before professional help arrives. This is why learning CPR and knowing how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is so important.
“These are staggering statistics and it’s the reason we want to educate as many people as possible to learn how to perform CPR,” said Kelly Olney, RN, nursing education specialist at Marian Regional Medical Center.
“Many times if people who suffer a heart attack were to receive CPR immediately it can double or triple their chance of survival,” Olney said.
Additionally AEDs, which deliver a shock to the heart to restore a normal rhythm, can be life-saving when used alongside CPR.
“Hands Only CPR is very simple to learn.” Olney said. “And by taking the time to learn CPR skills, you could be the difference between life and death for someone you love.”
In addition to free CPR demonstrations at the Farmer’s Market, there will be giveaways and a raffle to win dinner at a downtown restaurant.