CPR Without The Smooch: LA County To Train 500K In Hands-Only CPR

HOLLYWOOD, CA — Health officials on Thursday will gather in Hollywood to launch a program with an ambitious goal: training 500,000 Angelenos in hands-only CPR by the end of the year.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health program, LA County Heart Heroes 2023 Campaign, kicks off Thursday at noon at the Hollywood/Wilshire Wellness Center, 5205 Melrose Ave., according to a news release.

The event will include CPR training and is open to the public. Public safety and health officials will be on hand, as will representatives from the Dodgers, Rams, Chargers and Los Angeles Football Club.

Health leaders are setting partnerships with sports and entertainment venues, places of worship, schools and other locales with a goal of increasing the number of locals who are trained and ready to provide vital first aid when the need arises.

Hands-only CPR involves a bystander using only chest compressions on a person experiencing cardiac arrest — it omits the mouth-to-mouth breathing typical of traditional CPR. The modified technique has been shown to be as effective as conventional CPR, according to the University of Texas Medical Branch.

The benefits of hands-only CPR over traditional CPR include a greater willingness among bystanders to administer the aid. Rescue breaths can also cause excessive delays between chest compressions, according to a 2010 study.

For a full list of Heart Heroes CPR training events, visit the county health website.