Bryan Health stresses importance of learning CPR

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Bryan Health and the American Heart Association are reminding people that anyone can save a life.

Each year, June 1 to 7 is CPR and AED Awareness Week.

Chris Shives, executive director of the AHA, said it’s a great time to learn CPR.

“We see double or triple the chance of survival for someone that goes into cardiac arrest when a bystander is able to administer CPR right away,” Shives said.

About 70% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home, according to the AHA, which is why training is so valuable.

Mindi Jo Porto, Bryan Health’s training center coordinator, said life-saving techniques can be learned in less than a day.

“You could do it all in one sitting,” she said. “We do hold a live class that is a four-hour class for basic life support, and we train you from start to finish.”

With families home for the summer, Shives said there’s no better time to take a course that could save a loved one.

“It’s really important for someone in that house and hopefully everybody in the house to understand what it takes to perform hands-only CPR,” he said.