Saving lives through CPR education

LAFARGEVILLE, N.Y., June 2, 2025 — More than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests  occur in the United States each year1, and 90% of people who have a cardiac arrest will  not survive. 

That is why the American Heart Association, devoted to changing the future to a world of  healthier lives for all, and sponsor Knowlton Technologies are adding lifesavers to the  chain of survival by providing Hands-Only CPR education resources through a CPR in  Schools™ Training Kit for LaFargeville Central School District. 

According to the American Heart Association, more than 23,000 children experience  cardiac arrest each year, with nearly 40% related to sports and nearly 20% occurring in  infants. If performed immediately, CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of  survival, yet less than half of people actually receive the help they need from a  bystander. 

The CPR in Schools Training Kits enable students to learn the lifesaving skills of CPR in just  one class period. Plus, the kits teach automated external defibrillator (AED) use and  choking relief. The easy-to-use kits are designed specifically for the needs of schools. Each  kit can train hundreds of people. 

"Knowlton Technologies is proud to collaborate with the American Heart Association to  provide Hands-Only CPR kits to LaFargeville,” said William Hardin, business manager and  site lead with Knowlton Technologies. “Every minute counts in a cardiac emergency, and  giving students the skills to save lives is just as essential as any lesson taught in the  classroom. Empowering our schools with the tools and knowledge to respond makes our  communities stronger.” 

“Unfortunately, too many sudden cardiac arrest victims don’t get the help they need,”  said Stacy Spaziani, regional director for the American Heart Association. “Knowing how  to respond in a cardiac emergency when seconds matter can be the difference between  

1 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2022 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association, Table 19-2  https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/epub/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001052

life and death. Thanks to support from Knowlton Technologies, we will be able to add hundreds of students to the Nation of Lifesavers, so they can respond in those crucial first  moments after cardiac arrest.” 

Quick, simple and easy-to-learn, Hands-Only CPR has been shown to be as effective in  the first few minutes as conventional CPR for cardiac arrest at home, at work or in public2. 

For more information on Hands-Only CPR, visit cpr.heart.org. 

Additional Resources: 

• Bystander CPR 

• Bystander CPR Infographic 

• Hands-Only CPR Resources 

• Women and CPR 

• Cardiac Arrest vs. Heart Attack 

• Learn Hands-Only CPR/use an AED (English, Spanish, Mandarin) ### 

About the American Heart Association 

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated  to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of  health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million  volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public’s health, and  provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke.  By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work  tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org,  Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.  

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbw4Whd0bJ0

Photo caption: L-R Stacy Spaziani, regional director, American Heart Association; Travis Hoover, LaFargeville CSD superintendent; William Hardin, business manager and site lead, Knowlton Technologies; Beth Arthur, operations excellence manager, Knowlton Technologies; Brad Traynor, operations manager, Knowlton Technologies during CPR in Schools Training Kit presentation

Photo copyright: American Heart Association