Give The Gift of Life At Christmas

December 12, 2010
By: Stacy Sawyer

As you're sitting in front of your warm crackling fire this holiday season, take note that years ago bulky fireplace bellows were once used to resuscitate victims of cardiac arrest. Thankfully the American Heart Association researchers discovered CPR 50 years ago and now we know to that chest compressions and breaths are the key.


But everyone needs to know how to actually perform CPR. Almost 80 percent of cardiac arrests occur in the home and are witnessed by a family member. Therefore, the Heart Association is encouraging everyone to give the gift that can save a life this holiday season. The Family & Friends CPR Anytime kit is a fun and convenient way for you and your family to learn the life-saving skills of CPR right at home.

Each year, cardiovascular disease and sudden cardiac arrests claim the lives of 335,000 Americans before they reach a hospital. Performing CPR can double, even triple chances of survival. Not only is CPR an important skill to know, it's extremely easy to learn with CPR Anytime, a self-directed, personal CPR kit containing a personal CPR manikin, a CPR skills practice DVD, accessories, and resource booklet featuring information on child CPR, choking, and automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

Remember CPR Anytime is an ideal gift for virtually everyone. It can be shared with parents, babysitters, and children - even extended family members. It makes a wonderful employee holiday gift, and is a great tool for refreshing your CPR skills too.

Order your personal Family & Friends CPR Anytime learning kit today. Visit www.americanheart.org/cprgift, or call 877-AHA-4CPR. The kits sell for $29.95. Funds raised through this campaign go toward funding research and life-saving programs that help people live longer and healthier lives.

Stacy Sawyer
Communications Director -- American Heart Association
989-225-7513 (cell)
517-349-3240 (fax)

I invite your questions and feedback.