American Heart Association Launches Life-Saving Infant CPR Initiative at Singing River
Gulfport, MS (June 7, 2021) — To help train new parents in life-saving infant CPR and choking relief tactics, the American Heart Association is locally launching a new initiative that will allow local organizations, businesses, and individuals to sponsor a day’s worth of Infant CPR kits at area hospitals.
To kick off the project, the American Heart Association is donating a day’s worth of kits to Singing River Pascagoula and Singing River Gulfport Hospitals.
“Singing River Health System and the American Heart Association continue to be excellent community partners as we share a similar mission to improve health and save lives,” said Laurin St Pe, Singing River Heart & Vascular Services and Pascagoula Hospital Administrator. “We are honored to receive one of the first donations of Infant CPR kits through this new life-saving initiative and to continue providing the tools and resources needed for families in our community to have healthy journeys through life.”
Laurin St Pe, Singing River Heart & Vascular Services and Pascagoula Hospital Administrator
The kits will be distributed to new parents and will provide training resources such as manikins and self-study instructional DVDs. The Infant CPR Anytime personal learning program is an easy and effective training tool for new parents, grandparents, babysitters, and anyone caring for an infant. It teaches the core skills of infant CPR and choking relief in about 20 minutes. The kit contains everything needed to learn basic CPR and choking relief anywhere, from the comfort of home to a large community group setting.
“We utilize these in a hospital setting to teach our new parents the importance of CPR. This is especially important to us now because we have our level two special care nursery, and we are caring for premature and sick babies at a much younger age.”
This course is ideal for community groups, parents, grandparents, caregivers, schools and students, and others interested in learning how to save a life!
On the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the new Infant CPR initiative will challenge local organizations, businesses, and individuals to sponsor a day’s worth of kits for a local hospital. These kits will be distributed through hospital birthing centers and are particularly valuable in times of restricted in-person training, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
To learn more about the Infant CPR initiative on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, please contact Taji Kirkland (228) 424-4341; [email protected].
Facts about CPR
- Nationally, 90% of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests don’t survive.
- CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.
- Some 70 percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in homes? Statistically speaking, if you are called on to give CPR in an emergency, you will most likely be trying to save the life of someone you love: a spouse, a parent, a child, or a friend.
- Only about 46 percent of people who experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest receive the immediate help that they need before professional help arrives.
- Citizens from primarily poor, Hispanic, or African American neighborhoods are more likely to have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and are less likely to receive bystander CPR.
- Women are also less likely to receive CPR from a bystander. Barriers include fear of legal ramifications and accusations of inappropriate touching.
About CPR Week
During CPR Week, the American Heart Association shines a spotlight on how lives can be saved if more Americans know CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). In 2009, the American Heart Association launched a nationwide Hands-Only CPR campaign to raise awareness about this life-saving skill. The campaign is supported nationally by an educational grant from the Anthem Foundation. Since 2012, nearly 10.1 million people have been trained in Hands-Only CPR via events, training kiosks and video education with the Anthem Foundation’s support.
To learn how you can help in a cardiac arrest emergency, visit: www.heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR. Watch the Hands-Only CPR instructional video and share it with the important people in your life. You can help promote National CPR and AED Awareness Week in your community. Download free materials to celebrate the week here: www.heart.org/cprweek. Hands-Only CPR is a natural introduction to CPR, and the Association encourages everyone to learn conventional CPR as a next step. You can find a CPR class near you at www.heart.org/findacourse.
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
About Singing River Health System
Singing River Health System is a Mission-Driven, not-for-profit health care provider for the Mississippi Gulf Coast and surrounding areas. As one of South Mississippi’s largest employers, the system offers award-winning, comprehensive care for every age and stage. Singing River is committed to providing the highest quality as an accredited Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery, Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Distinction Center for Spine Surgery and Maternity Care, Baby-Friendly Designated, and home to the only A-rated hospitals in the region for Patient Safety and Overall Medical Excellence by Leapfrog and CareChex. Through this dedication, Singing River improves the health of its community while making it a better place to live and work and are honored to be the caregiver of choice. For more information, please visit: www.singingriverhealthsystem.com.
Stay in tune with the latest Singing River excitement by following us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Vimeo.
About Singing River Heart & Vascular Services
Singing River Hospital locations in Pascagoula, Ocean Springs, and Gulfport ensure the ability to serve cardiovascular patients across the gulf coast using the latest technology and skilled providers to diagnose and treat a wide range of cardiovascular conditions. In 2021, Singing River Health System opened a brand new, state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization lab at both Singing River Gulfport and Ocean Springs Hospitals and expanded current cardiac care areas at all three hospitals, including a Hybrid Operating Room in Ocean Springs, for more complex Structural Heart procedures to help meet the ever-growing need for lifesaving, innovative care.
