VCU Health, Sports Backers and the American Heart Association host community CPR event

By Carissa Etters and Pete Woody

Cardiac arrest can happen at any time, but its devastating effects can be prevented if we arm ourselves, our family and our friends with the skills necessary to save a life.

In partnership with Sports Backers and the American Heart Association, VCU Health presents the first annual VCU Health community CPR event on Monday, Sept. 26, from 5:30–8:30 p.m., at Sports Backers Stadium, 100 Avenue of Champions. Demonstrations begin at 6 p.m.

More than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside the hospital each year. Bystander CPR, especially if administered immediately after cardiac arrest, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. The free event will include an interactive hands-on experience for the whole family with the Hands-Only CPR Mobile Tour, presented by the AHA, which uses personalized music as a CPR teaching tool, a new focus for this annual event.Participants will receive a free CPR Anytime Kit® that they can use to practice and extend the life-saving skill of Hands-Only CPR to family and friends.