The Rotunda at Two Liberty Place was buzzing, not just with the usual lunchtime crowd noises, but with the steady thump of “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees. The upbeat song was the musical backdrop for a Hands-Only CPR training event hosted by CPR Ready, a campaign designed to increase the number of people in the region who are qualified and willing to perform bystander Hands-Only CPR, as well as use an automated external defibrillator (AED). This particular event targeted employees of Center City organizations and was supported in part by the Dolfinger-McMahon Foundation.
Penn Medicine’s Mobile CPR Project led the training with support from representatives from the American Heart Association. More than 120 people participated and hundreds of others observed or read information about Hands-Only CPR. The Mobile unit is supported by funding from the Independence Blue Cross Foundation through its Healthy Hearts Initiative.
CPR Ready is supported by many of the region’s top health institutions and public services, including: American Heart Association, American Red Cross, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, CPR/AED Public Awareness and Training Network, The Health Care Improvement Foundation, Independence Blue Cross, Independence Blue Cross Foundation, Penn Medicine, Philadelphia Fire Department, and the School District of Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia Regional CPR Awareness Coalition launched CPR Ready June 7, 2016 with a half-day, educational event and training session at WHYY studios in Philadelphia.