5-Minute CPR Training Sessions To Be Given At Oakland Airport

OAKLAND, CA — The American Heart Association opened two CPR kiosks at Oakland International Airport on Monday to offer awaiting travelers five-minute training sessions.

Each kiosk will show an instructional video and practice session with a 30-second test in either English or Spanish with closed captioning.

The kiosk will train people to call 911 and perform CPR by pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest at 100 to 120 beats per minute until help arrives. A practice mannequin will then give participants feedback about their technique.

The hands-only CPR will be offered at Terminal 1 near Gate 8 and Terminal 2 near Gate 27.

The heart association has 26 kiosks across the country, with 11 located at airports. About 91,000 people have trained for CPR using the kiosks.

More than 350,000 heart attacks happen outside of a hospital, and about 20 percent happen in public areas like airports, according to the association.

Local heart association chairman Dan Smoot said many people are afraid to perform CPR because they don't know the proper technique, and kiosk training can save lives.

"Every second counts when a person suffers a cardiac arrest, which is why bystander CPR must start immediately until professional help arrives," Smoot said.

— Bay City News; Image via Shutterstock