The American Heart Association is partnering with the Pi Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority to offer a hands-only virtual CPR demonstration in order to create more heroes who are ready to save a life in our community.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the No. 1 killer of women, claiming more women’s lives than all forms of cancer combined. Recently there has been an alarming decline in awareness that cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women, particularly in our youngest most diverse women.
“Women are more likely than men to have cardiomyopathy, live alone at an older age and there is a general fear that performing CPR on a woman may injure her or be considered inappropriate touching. Women and men need to know CPR because in an emergency seconds count”, said Emily Niespodziany, Executive Director of the American Heart Association. Research published in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation, concluded that educational and policy efforts to address these perceptions may reduce the disparities in the application of bystander CPR.
Only 39% of women received CPR from bystanders in public compared to 45% in men. That’s why both the American Heart Association and the women of the AKA sorority feel it’s important for all women to take charge of their heart health and encourage others to do the same through learning lifesaving CPR techniques.
The Pink Goes Red Virtual Hands-Only CPR demonstration will be held on Saturday, February 27 at 9:00 am. Community members can attend this free virtual Hands-Only CPR demonstration by visiting Facebook.com/AHATennessee. For more information, email GreaterChattanooga@Heart.org
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