Volunteers needed to spread word: “hands-only” CPR saves lives

Many people die needlessly from sudden cardiac arrest.  Please consider giving a few hours of your time to train other health care providers and bystanders how to respond with life-saving CPR.

“Hands-only CPR” is as effective as mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and is a life skill almost anyone can learn to perform in an emergency.  It’s as easy as calling 911, or applying the Heimlich maneuver.

Physicians, residents, and medical students--indeed, anyone with a basic life support provider card from the American Heart Association or Red Cross--is encouraged to get involved.

Teaching skills and a commitment to the Project SMILE (Saving More Illinois Lives through Education) format are essential.  (Project SMILE was founded by CMS member Vemuri S. Murthy, MD.  Dr. Murthy oversees all training and volunteer activities.)

Volunteers will be trained in the Project SMILE format, either privately or in classes taught by coalition instructors.  They will be asked to sign an agreement and assume responsibility for choosing the communities and locations for their presentations.

CMS will recognize each volunteer for his or her contributions during a quarterly Council Meeting or the yearly Annual Dinner Meeting.

To sign up, please fill out the form below and email it to rrubio@cmsdocs.org or to the Chicago Medical Society, 515 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60654.  For more information, call (312) 670-2550.