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p h i l a m e d s o c  .org

Feature continued

CPR Ready is a CPR, AED, and cardiac arrest public awareness campaign to
significantly increase the rates of bystander CPR and cardiac arrest survival
in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties.
The program works to achieve this goal by offering free, non-certification,
hands-only CPR instruction. In addition to its public outreach efforts,
CPR Ready aims to incorporate CPR and AED education in all middle
and high school curricula in the five-county Philadelphia region.

With the help of The Mobile CPR Project, CPR Ready trained
La Salle University students and staff. Pictured here are three
La Salle University softball players and Nabil Abdulhay, who
led the workshop.

Since its launch, CPR Ready partners have trained over 50,000 people in
hands-only CPR. CPR Ready offers training in two formats: traditional,
one-hour classroom style workshops and mass public training events where
CPR Ready sets up a booth at large, public events and trains passersby
in five to ten minutes. Past events have specifically focused on educating
underserved minority populations, whose financial or language barriers
have prevented them from learning CPR. CPR Ready also supports
proposed Pennsylvania state legislation to require CPR education for high
school students. After identifying schools that did not have a functioning
defibrillator, CPR Ready distributed 110 AEDs, creating a safer environment
for children who have sudden cardiac arrest. Through these efforts, CPR
Ready is working towards creating an environment where more people
respond to cardiac arrest.
Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone regardless of a person's age, gender,
race, presumed health, and cardiac history. For teens and adults, hands-only
CPR is just as effective as traditional CPR and can double or triple the
chance of survival.5 Since Tewksbury's cardiac arrest, he has become CPR
certified. "You never know when you may need to use CPR," explained
Tewksbury. "I'm evidence that it can happen to anyone at any time. The
short period of time it takes to learn CPR can help save someone's life."
For information on how to get involved or to receive hands-only CPR
training in your community, please email info@cprreadyphl.org. *
American Heart Association. 2013. Accessed February 27, 2018. Facts Every Second Counts Rural and Community Access to Emergency Devices. https://www.heart.
org/idc/groups/heart-public/@wcm/@adv/documents/downloadable/ucm_301646.
pdf
2
American Heart Association. FAQ: Hands-Only CPR. Accessed February 27,
2018. http://cpr.heart.org/idc/groups/ahaecc-public/@wcm/@ecc/documents/downloadable/ucm_494175.pdf
3
Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival. 2016 National Report. Accessed
February 26, 2018. https://mycares.net/sitepages/uploads/2017/2016%20
Non-Traumatic%20National%20Utstein%20Report.pdf
4
Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival. 2016 CARES Report for Philadelphia Fire. Accessed with permission. Accessed March 30, 2017.
5
Bobrow BJ, Spaite DW, Berg RA, et al. 2010. Chest Compression-Only CPR by
Lay Rescuers and Survival from Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest. Accessed February
27, 2018. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/186668
1

CPR Ready trained 330 people as part of the festivities of
CollegeFest 2017, an annual event offering free museum
tickets, job and internship opportunities, music, and games for
college students.

42 Philadelphia Medicine : Spring 2018
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