A ribbon cutting for the American Heart Association’s Mobile CPR Kiosk sponsored by Kettering Health took place on Feb. 13 at Wright State University. The kiosk serves as a tool to teach people how to perform the life-saving procedure. 

The importance of CPR 

In the event of cardiac arrest, CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival. 

“Healthcare providers know firsthand the importance of community-based interventions like hands-only CPR,” said Alina Joseph, executive director of Kettering Health Heart and Vascular.

“We see its results every day and the impact that those quick actions make on people’s lives. It’s so important to make learning CPR simple and accessible.”  

The first step in any health emergency is to call 911. But someone experiencing cardiac arrest needs immediate help, and that’s why CPR is so crucial. 

“We often measure life in years,” Audrey Starr, executive director of the American Heart Association, Dayton, said. “But when it comes to the heart, it’s the seconds that count.” 

The Mobile CPR Kiosk 

Although it saves lives, bystanders perform CPR less than half the time. The reason? Joseph says people simply don’t know how to. 

“This kiosk takes away that confusion and gives people the confidence to react,” Joseph said. 

According to Starr, the kiosk helps the community in two primary ways. First, it’s mobile. The kiosk will stay in the Dayton area for three years, traveling to a new location every three months to reach as many members of the community as possible. 

And secondly, it’s interactive. A video explains how to perform CPR, and a rubber torso measures hand placement, compression depth, and compression rate. The kiosk gives real-time feedback and a final score after 30 seconds. 

The Mobile CPR Kiosk will provide lifesaving skills for a healthier and safer community.