Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women, taking more lives than all forms of cancer combined. One in three women die of cardiovascular disease. Women can often have different symptoms of heart disease than men. They can have crushing chest pain and arm numbness, but can also have pain in the shoulders and back, gastrointestinal distress and fatigue.
In Rochester, the American Heart Association presented heart healthy information, along with CPR demonstrations at Strong Memorial Hospital on Go Red for Women® National Wear Red Day on February 4.
This year’s National Wear Red Day and American Heart Month activities are designed to help motivate people to “Be the Beat” needed to keep someone alive by learning the two simple steps it takes to save a life – call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest.
According to American Heart Association data, more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States each year. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival – which is key since about 90% of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die. And, because about 70% of cardiac arrests happen at home, odds are the person who needs CPR will be a family member or friend. Hands-Only CPR is quick and simple to learn and can be performed by any family member or bystanders.
“Unfortunately, women are less likely to receive CPR than men, partly because people fear accusations of inappropriate touching, sexual assault, or injuring the person,” said Go Red for Women Chairwoman Karen Keady, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive at University of Rochester Medical Center. “We encourage people to be prepared for a cardiac emergency by learning Hands-Only CPR to help save lives. If you are called on to give CPR in an emergency, you will most likely be trying to save the life of a loved one: a spouse, a parent, grandparent, child or a friend.”
Learn more at https://GoRedforWomen.org or learn Hands-Only CPR at https://heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR.
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