CPR saves lives and it is important for you to be up to date on the American Heart Association's new CPR guidelines.

Capt. Arthur Garcia from the Lee County Emergency Medical Services explains, "The heart's not beating, they're not breathing, we go ahead and initiate CPR. I think that CPR is probably one of the most profound things that we do."

Janine Hartin from the American Heart Association says that because CPR is such a lifesaving technique, it's important for everyone to learn how to do it, and if you already know it then you need to be aware of the new guidelines. "The biggest change that most people need to know is that the compression rate, or the amount of times you push on the chest, in accordance to how you give them a breath, has doubled, from 15 compressions for every two breathes, to 30 compressions for every two breathes."

Janine also says that increasing the number of times chest compressions are performed on a victim can help create more blood flow through the heart -- keeping them alive until emergency help arrives. "The thing to remember most important is to push hard and push fast. Because it's the chest compressions that the body needs to give the patient the best chance of survival. For patients to have their highest chance of recovery once they've collapsed, they need CPR within 4 to 6 minutes. So, they can't go much longer than 4 to 6 minutes without help."

Capt. Garcia speaks from experience by saying you won't regret knowing this valuable information. "Knowing that you had someone who was able to again, go through a sudden event, a crisis and then suddenly see them at some other point of time, walking around, there's no better thank you."

CPR is not only used to treat heart attacks. Approximately 7 million adults and children suffer injuries in their own homes and backyards each year, which may require CPR.

For a complete explanation of the new CPR guidelines, or to find a CPR course near you, log on to the American Heart Association website at www.americanheart.org.