American Heart Association Survey Reveals Americans Lack Confidence in Lifesaving Skills for Common Cardiac...( -- Eighty-nine percent of responde...),Health

-- Eighty-nine percent of respondents said they were willing and able to do

something to help if they witnessed a medical emergency.

-- Few Americans (12%-20%) are confident that they would know when it is

appropriate to perform CPR or use an AED.

-- At most, roughly four in ten are extremely or very likely to perform CPR

on an adult (39%) or child (37%) they know personally.

-- Less than 17 percent of Americans believe they are at risk for sudden

cardiac arrest.

-- The survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris

Interactive on behalf of the American Heart Association between January

8, 2008 and January 21, 2008 among 1,132 U.S. residents aged 18 and

older.

Public Policy for CPR/AEDs

-- The American Heart Association supports state public policy initiatives

that:

-- Promote the access and use of AEDs and establish quality AED

programs in high-risk locations

-- Encourage bystander CPR and CPR training for professionals who may

need to respond to medical emergencies

-- Promote increased quality and appropriate use of 9-1-1 systems

-- Extend Good Samaritan legal liability protection to all users of

AEDs

-- The American Heart Association also supports increased funding for the

Rural and Community Access to Emergency Devices Program, which gives

communities funding to place automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in

rural areas and trains lay rescuers and first responders to use AEDs.