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The Florida Department of Health is offering hands-only CPR training at locations across the state for free today. Hands only CPR is the same as regular CPR, but without mouth to mouth resuscitation.

“And all the health departments are on board for hands-only CPR for World Heart Day,” said Stefany Strong, the public information officer for the Volusia County Department of Health. “Many of us are having programs, and it’s just something we want to do to raise awareness.”

As it turns out, untrained bystanders are more likely to do hands-only CPR than mouth-to-mouth. And hands-only CPR is just as effective in those crucial first few minutes.

Strong says they want more people to do two things when someone goes down: Call 911.

“And two, immediately start those quick, rapid compressions in an attempt to revive the person,” Strong said.

There are more than 150 events planned statewide. Head here to find an event near you. 

WMFE is a partner with Health News Florida, a statewide collaborative reporting on health care.

Health reporting on WMFE is supported in part by AdventHealth.