Waiting at the airport? Take a minute to learn how to save someone's life with Hands-Only CPR

DALLAS, July 9, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Waiting for a flight at the airport? Why not put that time to good use and learn how to save someone's life?

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130709/DC44870)

The American Heart Association and American Airlines Occupation Health Services are helping passengers learn and practice lifesaving Hands-Only™ CPR while waiting for flights at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

The Hands-Only CPR kiosk will be placed in Terminal C, Gate 7 for six months, allowing hands-on practice with an actual CPR manikin and automated watch-while-practice CPR program.

"Every American should know the simple steps of Hands-Only CPR," said Ahamed Idris, M.D., a spokesman for the American Heart Association and professor of Surgery and Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. "We hope the Hands-Only CPR kiosk at DFW Airport really takes off – we'd love to see other high-traffic places do the same so more people can learn this lifesaving skill."

The American Heart Association has simplified the steps of CPR to encourage more people to take action: If you see a teen or adult collapse, first call 9-1-1, then push hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of the Bee Gees' song "Stayin' Alive," which has the perfect beat for proper CPR. With Hands-Only CPR, you don't have to do rescue breaths – just keep pushing until emergency help arrives.

The DFW touch screen kiosk's video program gives a brief introduction to the steps of Hands-Only CPR, followed by a practice session and a 30-second CPR test. The kiosk provides feedback about the depth, and rate of your compressions and proper hand placement.

"We care about the safety of our customers," said Jeral Ahtone, M.D., area medical director with American Airlines Occupational Health Services. "The more lifesavers we have at the airport, the better off we all are. It takes just a few minutes, and you never know when or where you might need to save a life."

For more information about Hands-Only CPR, visit http://www.heart.org/handsonlycpr.

About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – America's No. 1 and No. 4 killers. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation's oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit www.heart.org or call any of our offices around the country.

About American Airlines
American Airlines focuses on providing an exceptional travel experience across the globe, serving more than 260 airports in more than 50 countries and territories. American's fleet of nearly 900 aircraft fly more than 3,500 daily flights worldwide from hubs in Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami and New York. American flies to nearly 100 international locations including important markets such as London, Madrid, Sao Paulo and Tokyo. With more than 500 new planes scheduled to join the fleet, including continued deliveries of the Boeing 737 family of aircraft and new additions such as the Boeing 777-300ER and the Airbus A320 family of aircraft, American is building toward the youngest and most modern fleet among major U.S. carriers. American's website, aa.com®, provides customers with easy access to check and book fares, and personalized news, information and travel offers. American's AAdvantage® program, voted Program of the Year at the 2013 Freddie Awards, lets members earn miles for travel and everyday purchases and redeem miles for flights to almost 950 destinations worldwide, as well as flight upgrades, vacation packages, car rentals, hotel stays and other retail products. The airline also offers nearly 40 Admirals Club® locations worldwide providing comfort, convenience, and an environment with a full range of services making it easy for customers to stay productive without interruption. American is a founding member of the oneworld® alliance, which brings together some of the best and biggest airlines in the world, including global brands like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Iberia Airlines, Japan Airlines, LAN and Qantas. Together, its members serve more than 840 destinations served by some 9,000 daily flights to nearly 160 countries and territories. Connect with American on Twitter @AmericanAir or Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines. American Airlines, Inc. and American Eagle Airlines, Inc. are subsidiaries of AMR Corporation. AMR Corporation common stock trades under the symbol "AAMRQ" on the OTCQB marketplace, operated by OTC Markets Group.

About Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
Located halfway between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, DFW International Airport is the world's fourth busiest, offering over 1,900 flights per day and serving 58 million passengers a year. DFW provides nonstop service to 148 domestic and 52 international destinations worldwide. For seven consecutive years, DFW has ranked among the top ten large airports worldwide for customer service in surveys conducted by Airports Council International. For the latest news, real-time flight information, parking availability or further details regarding the many services provided at DFW International Airport, visit www.dfwairport.com.

SOURCE American Heart Association