Mobile CPR Training Units Arrive in Rochester, Finger Lakes Region
Mobile Hands-Only CPR Training Station Debuts in Rochester and Finger Lakes Region
A groundbreaking initiative has been launched in the Rochester and Finger Lakes region, aiming to increase critical life-saving skills among residents. The University of Rochester Medical Center (UR Medicine) and the American Heart Association (AHA) have introduced New York's first mobile hands-only CPR training station.
The innovative portable CPR kiosk will make its first appearance at the Buffalo Bills Training Camp, marking a significant collaboration between the two organisations. This collaboration reflects their commitment to expanding CPR training opportunities in community settings.
The kiosk features a built-in, rubber torso, or manikin, designed to guide proper hand placement, compression rate, and depth. It also offers real-time feedback to strengthen the CPR technique. The teaching station includes a touchscreen with a video program for brief training, practice, and testing.
The importance of bystander CPR in cardiac emergencies cannot be overstated. Jason Stulb, executive director of the AHA, Rochester, emphasized the significance of this initiative, stating, "Bystander CPR can make the difference between life and death for someone experiencing a cardiac arrest."
UR Medicine's Strong Memorial Hospital further highlights the importance of CPR training, stating that a person who is CPR trained can help someone else maximize their chances of survival after cardiac arrest.
The mobile CPR training station is a portable CPR kiosk, only the second of its kind in the U.S. Kathy Parrinello, chief operating officer of UR Medicine's Strong Memorial Hospital, emphasized the importance of being ready to respond to a similar crisis. Stephanie Von Bacho, MS, RN, NEA-BC, senior director of Learning and Development at the University of Rochester Medical Center, echoed this sentiment.
The initiative comes at a crucial time. Each year, over 350,000 people experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the U.S. The American Heart Association aims to create a Nation of Lifesavers through training and education like the mobile CPR kiosk.
The success of this initiative was evident during the Buffalo Bills Summer Camp, where UR Medicine and the AHA provided hands-only CPR training sessions in a mobile format to engage the public in life-saving skills.
For ongoing opportunities or updates, visit UR Medicine’s news channels or contact the American Heart Association’s New York office. If you want to explore official training schedules or get certified CPR courses aligned with the AHA, searching the AHA website or local hospital and medical provider pages in New York, including UR Medicine, is advisable.
The mobile CPR training station is just one step in the AHA's mission to increase CPR bystander response rates. The recent cardiac arrest incident involving Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin serves as a stark reminder of the importance of being "CPR ready." CPR helps maintain some blood flow until medical help arrives, potentially improving survival rates for cardiac arrest victims.
In Monroe and Livingston counties, only 32 percent of people who suffered cardiac arrest at home receive CPR prior to the arrival of an ambulance, which is below the national target of 45 percent. The mobile CPR training station is a significant step towards bridging this gap and improving outcomes for cardiac arrest patients.
