• 13-JUL-2017

Wendi McLendon-Covey, Star of ABC’s Hit Comedy ‘The Goldbergs,’ featured in new Hands-Only CPR PSA from the American Heart Association

PSA uses pop culture blunder to teach life-saving skill

The American Heart Association (AHA), has teamed up with actor-comedian Wendi McLendon-Covey for a new Hands-Only CPR training video​. In the spot, McLendon-Covey makes certain viewers will always remember the two simple life-saving CPR steps.

The video is an entertaining parody of recent award show mix-ups and is filled with clever, recognizable references to inform viewers about an important skill. Hands-Only CPR has two steps, performed in this order: when you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse, call 911. Then, push hard and fast in the center of the chest until help arrives.

More than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of the hospital setting each year. Hands-Only CPR has been shown to be as effective as conventional CPR for cardiac arrest when it occurs at home, at work or in public. It can double or triple a victim's chance of survival.

Additionally, approximately 70 percent of all out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur at home. Yet, the chances that a loved one will perform CPR on a person who has an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest at home decreases with the victim's age, according to a recent study in the Journal of the American Heart Association. The study also shows that CPR training and knowledge is lower among older adults, who are more likely to experience a cardiac arrest outside a hospital.

We hope you will be able to use the enclosed spots whenever public service time is available throughout the year.

Media Contacts: 
American Heart Association
Marissa Alanis: (214) 706-1538; marissa.alanis@heart.org​​ 

Title: The Mix -Up
Length: 30
Format: HD video and NSTC MPEG-2
Language: English
End Date: Never
Sponsor: American Heart Association/Anthem Foundation
Target Audience: All