US airports showcase CPR training kiosks

The American Heart Association and Anthem Foundation are showcasing its Hands-Only CPR training kiosks at Cleveland Hopkins International, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International and Orlando International airports, taking the total number of US airport with the booths to seven.

At the kiosks, passengers can learn hand only CPR in five minutes while they wait for their flight. Hands only CPR has been shown to be as effective as conventional CPR for cardiac arrests that happen in public, with US figures showing more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside a hospital every year.

Each kiosk has a touch screen with a short video that provides an overview of the CPR method, followed by a practice session and a 30-second test. With the help of a practice mannequin or a rubber torso, the kiosk gives feedback about the depth, rate of compressions, and proper hand placement.

Craig Samitt, managing director and chief clinical officer at Anthem, said, "Our nation's airports have proven to be a great way to extend our educational campaign to train people on the lifesaving skill of Hands-Only CPR and, help meet the Association's goal to double bystander response by 2020. By expanding the availability of the training kiosks, we're hopeful that more people will feel confident to administer Hands-Only CPR on a stranger or someone they love."

More than 20,000 visitors have learned Hands-Only CPR from the Association kiosks installed in 2016 at O'Hare International; Indianapolis International; Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International; and Baltimore-Washington International.