The County of Los Angeles Emergency Medical Services Agency, the Los Angeles County Fire Department, and the American Heart Association are once again coordinating free hands-only CPR training on Sidewalk CPR Day, June 2, at over 50 sites across Los Angeles County to help improve cardiac survivability.

Last year, more than 10,000 people in Los Angeles County learned how to save a life in just a few minutes with a quick lesson from local firefighters and medical professionals. This year, the goal is to train at least 10,000 more.

Locations in Santa Clarita include: Los Angeles County Fire Department @ Costco from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m., 18649 Vía Princessa, Santa Clarita, CA 91387; Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, Hospital entrance, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., 23845 McBean Pkwy, Valencia, CA 91355; American Medical Response @ Westfield Valencia Town Center, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., 24201 Valencia Blvd, Valencia, CA 91355; and Los Angeles County Fire Department @ Walmart Supercenter, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m., 27931 Kelly Johnson Pkwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.

Ninety percent of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die. It takes 10 minutes or less to learn how to keep a cardiac arrest victim alive until paramedics arrive.

“Bystanders are the first link in the chain of survival when every minute counts,” says Cathy Chidester, director of the County EMS Agency. “Learning Hands-Only CPR empowers anyone to be able to save a life when someone suffers sudden cardiac arrest. With 70 percent of all cardiac arrests occurring at home, family and friends can double or triple their loved one’s chance of survival by learning CPR.”

Hands-only CPR focuses on the first few minutes following a cardiac arrest, since the lungs and blood contain only enough oxygen to keep vital organs healthy for that amount of time. While emergency responders are on their way to the scene, chest compressions using hands-only CPR will provide the ongoing blood flow needed to give the patient a much better chance of survival once responders arrive. Once trained, citizens are encouraged to download the PulsePoint mobile app for iOS and Android to receive notifications that someone nearby is in need of CPR. To learn more, visit the PulsePoint Foundation website at www.pulsepoint.org.

Less than 10 percent of the nearly 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims survive nationwide. Only 46 percent of victims receive CPR from a bystander. Don’t be a bystander in a cardiac emergency – be a lifesaver! For a list of training sites, visit www.fire.lacounty.gov/sidewalkcpr/.