WEST PALM BEACH — Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast schools are out for the summer, and the American Heart Association is calling on parents and families to learn Hands - Only CPR so this summer break can be as safe as it is fun.

 More than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States each year, and 90% of people who have a cardiac arrest will not survive.

According to the American Heart Association, more than 23,000 children experience cardiac arrest each year, with nearly 40% related to sports and nearly 20% occurring in infants. If performed immediately, CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival, yet less than half of people actually receive the help they need from a bystander. With school out for summer, children will be away from teachers and coaches who might be trained in CPR, making it crucial for parents to know this life-saving skill.

“Summer is a time for fun and relaxation. It’s also a great opportunity to make sure you’re prepared in an emergency,” said John Domenico, board president for the American Heart Association Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast. “We can each do our part to model health for our families and community members, whether that means organizing a CPR training at work, scheduling check-ups for the family or finally quitting tobacco-use.”

The Heart Association offers this checklist for a heart healthy summer and beyond:

1. Learn CPR and join the Nation of Lifesavers™. In Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast, families can take an online CPR course, watch a 60-second video to learn Hands-Only CPR for adults or watch this video to learn how to save an infant or child using CPR with breaths. Travelers can also get trained in Hands-Only CPR in about five minutes while they wait for their flights with an airport kiosk, located in airports across the country. For more information on how to learn CPR, visit heart.org/nation.  
2. Pick one healthy habit for you and your family to work on. Staying on track with your family’s health goals during summer can be a challenge. Set manageable goals and choose one aspect of physical or mental health to focus on. The American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8™ are key measures for improving and maintaining cardiovascular health throughout your life, including: embrace healthy eating, move your body, quit tobacco, sleep well and maintain a healthy weight. There’s even a Life’s Essential 8 for kids.
3. Plan ahead.  Schedule doctor’s appointments and refill prescriptions to make sure you have enough medication to get home safely if you’re traveling. Check if your summer destination has an emergency plan or cardiac emergency response plan (CERP) in place. A CERP establishes specific steps to reduce death from cardiac arrest in any settings, from schools to workplaces.
4. Start your team for the Palm Beach County Heart Walk. Every walker who joins and every dollar donated means more people trained in lifesaving CPR, more lifesaving research funded and longer, healthier lives for everyone in Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast. Learn more and get involved in the Palm Beach County Heart Walk at PalmBeachHeartWalk.org

The American Heart Association is committed to turning a nation of bystanders into lifesavers. The long-term goal is to ensure that in the face of a cardiac emergency anywhere, someone is prepared and empowered to call 911 and perform CPR.

For additional ways to raise awareness during National CPR and AED Awareness Week, visit heart.org/nation. Nation of Lifesavers is nationally sponsored by Walgreens.