()CPR Awareness Week is a week that runs from June 1-7 each year. This year, this significance is even more striking. The American Heart Association predicts that cardiac arrests will increase as Americans spend more time at their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

More than 350,000 cardiac arrests are reported in the United States each year. About 70% of these occur at home. Family members or household members can perform Hands-Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. Household members are likely to be the most vulnerable providers of CPR at their homes during COVID-19. This is because they may have been exposed, even if the victim of cardiac arrest has COVID-19.

“Rather than waiting for first responders to arrive, performing immediate CPR in the case of cardiac arrest can double or triple a victim’s odds of survival,” says Comilla Sasson, M.D. American Heart Association, Vice President of Emergency Cardiovascular Care. “If you are willing and able to do CPR, you should do CPR, even during this pandemic.”

Two simple steps are required for Hands-Only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. Anyone can learn this from the 90-second video at heart.org/handsonlycpr.

Step 1: If your teen or adult suddenly collapses in your home, dial 911 immediately.

Step 2: Put one hand on top and push on the victim’s chest as shown in video.

Tempo matters.

Rescuers should press on the chest at a speed of 100 to 120 beats/minute. The American Heart Association recommends following the beats of any song, including “Stayin’ Alive,”The Bee Gees “Crazy in Love,” by Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z, “Hips Don’t Lie,”Shakira” or “Follow the Line” by Johnny Cash.

People feel more confident performing Hands-Only CPR and are more likely to remember the correct rate when trained to the beat of a familiar song.

In 2009, the American Heart Association launched a nationwide Hands-Only CPR campaign, supported nationally by an educational grant from the Anthem Foundation, to raise awareness about this life-saving skill. More than 10 million people have been trained in Hands-Only CPR via events, training kiosks and video education with the Foundation’s support.

Take advantage of shelter-in-place time and brush up on your Hands-Only CPR skills: you just might save someone you love. Visit heart.org/handsonlycprYou can watch and share the Hands-Only CPR instructional film.