Friday letters: CPR training in school would save lives

Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Every year, more than 400,000 people suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and only 10 percent survive. The problem most often is that victims do not receive timely and effective CPR.

Five minutes can make the difference in survival, and effective bystander CPR can double or even triple a victim’s chances of survival. Bills that were introduced this year in the Legislature would require high school students to receive CPR training prior to graduation. As schools prepare students with essential life skills, equipping them with vital CPR skills would put thousands of potential lifesavers into the community each year.

President, S.C. Chapter, American College of Cardiology

Myrtle Beach