HANDS ONLY CPR
April 2, 2008

For Immediate Release

Recent headlines and television news articles have mentioned the introduction of Hands Only CPR as a replacement to Conventional CPR which includes mouth-to-mouth breaths.

It is important to understand that Hands Only CPR is NOT a replacement to Conventional CPR and should only be used when a bystander witnesses an adult collapse suddenly and is either not confident in their ability to provide Conventional CPR or unwilling to provide mouth-to-mouth breaths.  Hands Only CPR is not as effective as Conventional CPR in many medical emergencies.  Some examples of these emergencies include:

• Unresponsive infants and children 

• Adult victims who are found already unconscious and are not breathing normally

• Victims of drowning or collapse due to breathing problems

What is Hands Only CPR?
Hands Only CPR is CPR without the mouth-to-mouth breaths.  It is recommended for use only by people who see an adult suddenly collapse.  The American Heart Association still recommends Conventional CPR (a combination of chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth breaths) for all infants and children, for adult victims who are found already unconscious and not breathing normally, and for any victims of drowning or collapse due to breathing problems.

What is changing in CPR Courses?
All CPR courses conducted by MediTrain, LLC will still include instruction in the conventional chest compression and mouth-to-mouth administration of CPR.  An additional segment will be added to our courses to explain when Hands Only CPR may be appropriate.

What is changing for Healthcare Provider Courses?
The guidelines and recommendations by The American Heart Association for Healthcare Providers have not changed.  All MediTrain, LLC Healthcare Provider Courses will continue to provide instruction in Conventional CPR methods.

If you have been trained in Conventional CPR, do it!
While Hands Only CPR has shown to be effective in increasing a victim of cardiac arrest's chances of survival, Conventional CPR (which includes mouth-to-mouth breaths), may provide an even better chance of survival for the victim.  If you have been trained in Conventional CPR, and you are confident in your ability to provide CPR that includes breaths and chest compressions, you should provide Conventional CPR until professional help arrives.


If you have further questions related to Hands Only CPR, please contact MediTrain, LLC by calling (330) 644-1020 or visit The American Heart Association's website at http://www.heart.org.  

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