Our national healthcare series, Second Opinion, has formed an exciting partnership with the American Heart Association to produce this national television special with the goal of teaching all of America Hands-Only CPR! The special is being produced in coordination with the new worldwide CPR guidelines that will be released on October 15^th – the same night that CPR in America premieres on WXXI-TV and PBS stations across the country.

CPR in America tapes before a live studio audience of survivors and rescuers. It features documentary-style survivor stories, provides easy to understand Hands-Only CPR demonstrations, and shares interviews with the doctors involved in creating the new guidelines. Coinciding with the launch is a website (secondopinion-tv.org/CPRinAmerica) that will provide additional video and resources, as well as a list of partnering organizations that offer on-site CPR training all over the country.

Why produce a special like this? Because each year, more than 326,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States, and 90% of those people die.  Survival rates can double or triple if the victim receives CPR right away.  Yet, 70% of Americans feel helpless to act during a cardiac emergency because they don’t know how to administer CPR or they’re afraid of hurting the victim. But, a 2012 study showed that people who view a Hands-Only CPR demonstration are significantly more likely to deliver lifesaving chest compressions.

A television broadcast like this has never been done before in the U.S. And, Second Opinion, the only regularly scheduled health program on public television, is honored to be able to produce this special that will teach Hands-Only CPR to a broader audience than any CPR class could reach!  CPR in America airs on Thursday, October 15 at 8 p.m. on WXXI-TV and I encourage you and your family to tune in and become the next group of potential rescuers.