Hillsborough Libraries To Host Hands-Only CRP Classes

TAMPA, FL – According to the American Heart Association, more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States every year. More staggering is that 90 percent of those people die.

However, American Heart Association reports that if CPR is performed immediately, it can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, in partnership with the American Heart Association, will host free, life-saving hands-only CPR classes in July at various library locations. Participants will receive basic hands-on training that can help them to act when help is needed.

Hands-only CPR is CPR without mouth-to-mouth breaths. It is recommended for use by bystanders who see a teen or adult suddenly collapse in an out-of-hospital setting.

The hands-only CPR classes will be available at the following Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Libraries:

• Tuesday, July 11 at 6 p.m. – Seffner-Mango Branch Public Library, 410 N. Kingsway Road, Seffner
• Tuesday, July 18 at 10 a.m. – James J. Lunsford Law Library, 701 E. Twiggs St., Tampa
• Monday, July 24 at 6:30 p.m. – Seminole Heights Branch Library, 4711 Central Ave., Tampa
• Friday, July 21 at 3 p.m. – Ruskin Branch Library, 26 S.E. Dickman Drive, Ruskin

Reservations are required for the classes and attendance at each class will be limited to 14 participants. To register, call (813) 272-5818 or click the events and class tab at http://hcplc.org/.

The hands-only CPR class is designed to teach the basics of bystander CPR and does not include a certification. To get a CPR certification, contact the American Heart Association at http://cpr.heart.org/.

Caption: Dr. Alson Inaba, second left, demonstrates Hands-Only CPR to New Yorker Carrie Driscoll, at the launch of American Heart Association’s National Hands-Only CPR campaign, Tuesday June 5, 2012, in New York.

Photo courtesy of Diane Bondareff/Invision for AHA/AP Images