By Micah Wilkins
Northeast News
July 30, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – The Kansas City, Mo., Fire Department is catching up to the times, and encouraging others to do the same.

In 2008, the American Heart Association approved continuous chest compressions, or hands-only CPR, as the preferred CPR method. Since May, KCFD has begun holding trainings for hands-only CPR for interested individuals and groups like boy scouts, businesses and community groups.

During regular CPR, the person performing the CPR must stop pumping their chest in order to pump air into their lungs. In a press release, Deputy Fire Chief Tom Collins said science has shown this interruption causes problems to the recipient.

“High-quality, uninterrupted chest compressions will pump and circulate more oxygen into a victim’s chest, which is most vital when helping a victim,” Collins said.

According to Collins, who helped organized the training program, hands-only CPR is also easier on the person performing.

“Once you get the hand placement and rhythm down, that’s all there is to it,” Collins said.

The Fire Department is working with local hospitals to organize training classes for group and individual trainings, and hopes to soon offer hands-only CPR training to large employers in the area, such as Sprint and Cerner. Groups hoping to participate in a hands-only training session may call 816-784-9200 or visit www.hoaheartsafe.org. Trainings, which take 20 minutes or less, may be held at the Fire Department or at a group’s meeting room.