MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. — School children learning bystander CPR may be the answer to reducing the more than 326,000 deaths by cardiac arrests occurring outside hospitals each year. Victims often die because bystanders don’t know how to start CPR, or are afraid they will do something incorrectly. To combat the issue in local schools, McLaren Macomb has donated two ‘CPR in Schools’ kits and will sponsor 19 assemblies across Macomb County in 2018.
“We’re excited to partner with the American Heart Association and have a direct impact on our community this way,” said Sharyl Smith, Vice President, Marketing & Public Relations for McLaren Macomb. “By donating the ‘CPR in Schools’ kits and sponsoring assemblies, we’re giving Michigan children a skill that can make an enormous difference in their schools, homes and communities.”
The American Heart Association is helping prepare more students, their teachers and their families to save lives with its ‘CPR in Schools’ initiative. In only 30 minutes, students can learn the lifesaving skill, arming them with the ability to save the lives of their friends, relatives or classmates.
“About 90 percent of cardiac arrest victims die because bystanders don’t know how to start CPR or are afraid they’ll do something wrong,” says Amy Hobley, Regional Vice President at the American Heart Association. “Hands-Only CPR can double or triple a cardiac victim’s chance of survival. We’re committed to arming Michigan students with the confidence to save a life.”
About McLaren Macomb
In January 2012, Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center became McLaren Macomb.
McLaren Macomb is a 288-bed acute care hospital located in Mount Clemens, Mich. More than 400 physicians and nearly 2,000 employees work at McLaren Macomb making it one of Macomb County’s top employers. McLaren Macomb provides a full range of services, including cancer and cardiovascular care. As Macomb County’s first verified trauma center, the hospital operates the busiest emergency department in Macomb County and is also an accredited chest pain center. McLaren Macomb has a rich history of providing high quality, compassionate health care and holds a strong position in the community it serves. To learn more, visit mclaren.org/macomb or subscribe to our blog mclaren.org/macombblog.
About CPR in Schools in Michigan
In December of 2016, Michigan legislators passed the CPR in Schools law that would require all high school graduates to learn hands-only CPR. Michigan is one of thirty-seven states that requires hands-only CPR as part of the state’s graduation requirement. Each year 100,000 new lifesavers will graduate in Michigan with the skills and confidence they need to help during a cardiac emergency. To learn more about the American Heart Association’s CPR in Schools initiatives, call 1-877-AHA4CPR.