By: Sukripa Shah

February is National Heart Month, and it’s also the month when we celebrate Valentine’s Day. In honor of both, our Volunteer Engagement Lead Sukripa Shah writes about how learning CPR/First Aid with the American Red Cross is an act of love.

February is the month of love. When a person is in love, happy hormones are released in the body, leading to tangible health benefits. From improved mood and reduced stress level to a long life and overall well-being, the link between love and a healthy heart is strong. Being in love is great, but having a healthy heart also reduces the chances of experiencing Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). 

National Heart Month is celebrated mainly to acknowledge the importance of a healthy heart and to promote a heart-healthy lifestyle. The cause of SCA is hard to pinpoint, as the risk factors vary from underlying heart conditions, intense physical stress, to genetics. Sudden Cardiac Arrest is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Tragically, 9 out of 10 people who experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die. Most people (7 out of 10) suffer cardiac arrest at home. 

When a person collapses during a cardiac arrest, the heart stops beating and stops the flow of oxygen to the brain and other parts of the body. This significantly lowers the chances of one’s survival. Research states that bystander CPR, or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, can double or triple a person’s chances of living when implemented immediately. 

We cannot always predict the occurrences of somebody experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, but what we can do is control their survival chances through timely CPR. The Red Cross promotes the critical need to train as many people to perform CPR and know how to use an automated external defibrillator (or AED) until help arrives. The Red Cross provides hands-on, OSHA-compliant training and certification classes on CPR and AED to anyone who wants to learn life-saving skills they can use during an emergency. If you want to learn how to perform CPR and use AED, you can enroll in a class here. 

You can also download the free Red Cross First Aid App for instant access to information on handling the most common first aid emergencies, including Sudden Cardiac Arrest, at your fingertips. 

The symbol of love is a heart. This Valentine’s Day, let’s celebrate love and compassionate care by learning and practicing critical CPR and AED use to help save your loves ones and people experiencing a cardiac emergency. You may also want to share the love through volunteering! The Red Cross depends primarily on its strong network of volunteers to facilitate its life-saving mission. If you are passionate about helping others and working with team members who are on the front lines of emergency relief, you can learn more about the available positions at Red Cross Volunteer Opportunities. 

Primary image description: A graphic from the American Red Cross Training Services division. White words over a red background, reading: “The life you save with CPR is most likely someone you love.” The “o” in “love” is shaped like a heart.

Secondary image description: Picture of a participant’s gloved hands in a Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED class, preparing to begin chest compressions on a CPR test Manikin.