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Fairfield County: Learn CPR, Help Set World Record

by Julie Curtis

STAMFORD, Conn. - Generally speaking, the opportunity to simultaneously set a world’s record and to learn how to save a life doesn't happen too often. But on Saturday, Aug. 25, you can lay claim to both – and in only 15 minutes – at Hands For Life Stamford 2012. The free event takes place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Chelsea Piers Field House in Stamford.

Hands for Life Stamford 2012 aims to train 10,000 adult attendees in hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) over the course of 10 hours. Instruction will come from trainers dedicated to making people knowledgeable about the procedure, as well as capable in performing it, representatives said. Each session will take approximately 15 minutes.

According to Anne T. Fountain, director of Stamford's Department of Health and Social Services, heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women. More than 785,000 individuals suffer from heart attacks annually in the U.S., she said, adding that the 15-minute training can give people tools they need to save lives. 

Hands For Life is working with the American Heart Association's challenge to educate a greater percentage of residents on how to save lives with compression-only CPR. The Hands For Life website presents its case for learning CPR. According to statistics cited on it:

  • Seventy-five percent of cardiac arrests occur at home.
  • Family or friends witness 75 to 85 percent of cardiac arrests.
  • Fifty percent of patients who have a cardiac arrest have no symptoms before the event.
  • The likelihood of death increases 10 percent for each minute without CPR and defibrillation.

“Our event is meant to give people confidence that they can and should do something to help save a life from cardiac arrest," said Dr. Thomas Nero, cardiologist and co-director of Hands for Life. "Just trying to do CPR doubles the chance of survival."

Free parking and shuttles are available continuously during the event. Buses will run every 10 minutes from Stamford High School's parking lot at 55 Strawberry Hill Ave. as well as from St. Mary's Church parking lot at 566 Elm St. Handicapped parking access is available at Chelsea Piers.

Attendees can join in as individuals or on teams. Registration is encouraged on the hands for life website. 

 

 

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