Research shows that individuals who are shown very brief “Hands Only” CPR training videos are significantly more likely to attempt CPR and show superior CPR skills than individuals who are not shown the videos. Such exposure makes a significant life saving difference when no one formally trained in CPR is available. The “Hands Only” technique does not involve mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and as such removes a significant roadblock for some people who are otherwise willing to help. While CPR is best, using the “Hands Only” technique can sustain life while waiting for professional help to arrive.

The American Heart Association offers short videos online, each less than 2 minutes long, showing how to do the Hands Only CPR technique on both females and males experiencing a cardiac emergency event. The video for the technique to use on females is available additionally in Spanish and Mandarin. The video for the technique to use on males is also additionally available in Spanish and Mandarin. Many family members, friends, and advocates of at-risk individuals, though they may not have received formal CPR certification, have a higher probability of saving lives if exposed to these videos. While the videos do not provide certification, the American Heart Association supports the dissemination of the videos to those who would otherwise never be formally trained.

The American Heart Association also has printable toolkits for download for those in a position to share the information. These include a Hands-Only CPR fact sheet, as well as a Hands-Only CPR Guide.

Kiosks are also available to view the videos in some public spaces. An online tool is available to find a training kiosk near you. In the Cincinnati area, there are two kiosks available, one at the Duke Energy Convention Center (located at 525 Elm Street); and the other at the Cincinnati Museum Center (located at 1301 Western Avenue) on the Northwest side of the main lobby.

You can find more resources related to primary health care by selecting the “Primary Medical Care” category tab on our Social Service “Utilization Library” page.