‘Sidewalk CPR’ Demos Come to La Jolla on Tuesday

You might be able to save a life with hands-only CPR. In less than five minutes—at nearly 30 locations across San Diego County—you can learn hands-only CPR as part of the annual “Sidewalk CPR” day Tuesday, June 4.

Hands-only CPR is cardio pulmonary resuscitation without the mouth-to-mouth breaths and is recommended for use by people who see an adult suddenly collapse. Traditional CPR is still recommended for all infants and children, drowning victims and adult victims who are already found unconscious and not breathing.

“Hands-only CPR is safe, effective and easy for people to learn,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., county public health officer. “In less than five minutes people can to learn how to do it and know their actions can help save lives.”

San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Emergency Medical Services staff are joining with several community partners including the American Red Cross and local fire departments to demonstrate the procedure. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease. Every year about 785,000 Americans have a first heart attack. Approximately 470,000 people who have already had one or more attacks have another.

More people could survive cardiac arrest if someone nearby immediately delivers CPR. The new system, which is easier, may encourage more people to do it. Unfortunately, less than one-fourth of those who suffer a heart attack receive CPR from a bystander. 

The prompt delivery of CPR more than doubles a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival by helping maintain a blood flow to the heart and brain.

La Jolla locations:

• UCSD Medical Center (10 a.m. – 2p.m.), 200 W. Arbor Dr., San Diego.
• UCSD Thornton (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.), 9300 Campus Pt. Dr., La Jolla.
• UCSD Cadiovascular Center (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.), 9434 Medical Center Dr., La Jolla.