Airport Firefighters to Teach Travelers Hands-Only CPR
IND is one of 21 airports in the United States with a CPR kiosk.
INDIANAPOLIS, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022 - The American Heart Association and Indianapolis International Airport want travelers to know the life-saving skill of Hands-Only CPR. Firefighters from the airport fire department will utilize the AHA’s Hands-Only CPR interactive kiosk to train guests in the airport’s Civic Plaza from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 4.
“October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, and it’s also a busy time of travel for fall breaks, so it’s a perfect time to help people learn a skill that could help save a life,” said Firefighter Lieutenant Michael Hammond with the airport fire department. “The interactive kiosks are a great tool for people to get hands-on experience in delivering chest compressions, and it only takes a few minutes.”
Every year, more than 350,000 people in the United States experience sudden cardiac arrest outside of a hospital. Less than half of those people receive immediate CPR from a bystander – an intervention that can more than double the chance of survival.
“When the heart stops beating, every second is critical to a person’s survival,” said Dr. Sandeep Dube, a cardiologist who is president of the American Heart Association’s Indianapolis board of directors. “Hands-Only CPR circulates blood and oxygen to the brain and the rest of the body, improving a person’s chance not only to live but to have a full recovery.”
The American Heart Association has placed Hands-Only CPR kiosks in both Terminal A (Gate A18) and Terminal B (Gate B15) at Indianapolis International Airport. The first interactive kiosk was put into use in 2016. Since then, nearly 21,000 travelers at IND have completed the brief training to learn Hands-Only CPR.
Each kiosk has a touch screen with a brief video that shows how to perform Hands-Only CPR followed by a practice session and a 30-second CPR test. With the help of a practice manikin, or a rubber torso, the kiosk gives feedback about the depth and rate of compressions and proper hand placement – factors that influence the effectiveness of CPR.
IND is one of 21 airports in the United States with a CPR kiosk.
###
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.