San Diego emergency officials are teaming up today for Sidewalk CPR Day to teach free hands-only CPR at about 30 locations throughout the county.
The 5 to 10 minute lessons require no appointment and teach people how to save the life of someone who is experiencing cardiac arrest.
Cardiac arrest claims the lives of more than 350,000 people in the U.S. every year. Most victims die before they reach a hospital because they didn’t receive life-saving CPR, according to the American Heart Association.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nearly 800,000 Americans have a first heart attack every year. Approximately 470,000 people who have already had one or more attacks have another.
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, according to San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.
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 a county news release. “In less than five minutes people can to learn how to do it and know their actions can help save lives.”
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, according to San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency.
Here is a complete list of locations offering the free training on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. except where noted:
UCSD Medical Center (10:00 – 2:00), 200 W. Arbor Dr., San Diego
UCSD Thornton (10:00 – 2:00), 9300 Campus Pt. Dr., La Jolla
UCSD Cadiovascular Center (10:00 – 2:00), 9434 Medical Center Dr., La Jolla
Plaza Bonita Shopping Mall, 3030 Plaza Bonita Rd., National City
Imperial Beach Pier Plaza, 10 Evergreen, Imperial Beach
Albertson’s San Marcos, 151 Woodland Ave., San Marcos
Albertson’s San Marcos, 1929 W San Marcos Blvd, San Marcos
Escondido Fire Station #4, 3301 Bear Valley Pkwy., Escondido
Target Center Vista, 1751 University D.r, Vista
Red Cross Training Classroom, (12:30 - 1:30) 3950 Calle Fortunada, San Diego
Coronado Rotary Plaza, Coronado
Oceanside Lifeguard Headquarters, 301 N. The Strand, Oceanside
Oceanside West Wal-Mart, 2100 Vista Way, Oceanside
Pala Fire Dept, 34884 Lilac Ext. Rd, Pala
Civic Center Plaza San Diego, 202 “C” St., San Diego
Carlsbad Blvd – Grass area next to Harbor Fish, 3100 Block Carlsbad Blvd.
Downtown San Diego, 225 Broadway, San Diego
YMCA Chula Vista, 1201 Paseo Magda, Chula Vista
Julian Main Street, Multiple sites along Main St., Julian
Santa Ysabel, Don’s Market, Santa Ysabel
Cameron Family YMCA , 10123 Riverwalk Dr., Santee
Albertson’s & Starbucks Center, 2955 Alpine Blvd, Alpine
Daniels Market, 5256 S. Mission Rd., Bonsall
Albertson’s Market, 1133 S. Mission Rd., Fallbrook
Fresh & Easy, 1101 S. Main St., Fallbrook
Major Market, 854 S. Main St., Fallbrook
Public Health Center, 606 E. Valley Parkway, Escondido
County Operations Center, Building 5510, 5510 Overland Dr., San Diego
Marine Corps Air Station – Miramar, Main Exchange & Family Readiness
