KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tuesday was the first day of National CPR and AED Awareness Week, which is meant to encourage people across the U.S. to learn some crucial life-saving skills.
Every year from June 1 through June 7, the American Heart Association announces a health-focused campaign. They said around 70% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in homes, where other people in the household may be called on to give CPR.
They said seconds count for a lot during these kinds of emergencies, and quickly giving CPR to someone can save their life.
"Every minute that goes by, your chance of survival decreases by about 10%, so unfortunately the odds aren't great unless we have high-quality CPR paired with the use of an AED," said one health expert.
People can learn how to properly administer CPR through CPR Choice in Knoxville. They offer first-aid classes and CPR classes, helping people get a certification through the American Heart Association showing they know how to save lives in emergencies.
People can join one of their training classes to learn CPR, listed online.