LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Only 10% of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survive according to the American Heart Association. 

What You Need To Know

  • The American Heart Association and the Kentucky Association of Health Plans launched a statewide infant CPR kit initiative in 2022

  • Kits are being delivered to health care facilities to distribute to new parents

  • New funding is allowing the initiative to move into new areas 

  • The goal is to reach parents in rural areas 

CPR, if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.

Katherine Kington North with the Kentucky Association of Health Plans knows that when a child falls into cardiac arrest, every second counts. The American heart association says more than 7,000 kids suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest annually. 

In May 2022, the two organizations teamed up to provide 3,000 infant CPR training kits to neonatal intensive care units in 11 Kentucky counties.

“This is important. These kits fill a void of in-person training that we missed out on because covid shutdowns, we had staffing shortages, we had safety mandates and so these CPR in-person training didn’t happen,” saidNorth.

A $150,000 investment from KAHP is providing an additional 4,350 kits to new parents in rural communities. Each kit includes a mannequin and a CPR video training course allowing parents to get hands-on practice. 

“To be able to really feel what that feels like gives parents that confidence every compression is reminding yourself you’re doing it and you know how to do this and you can do it,” said North. 

UofL Hospital medical director Tonya Robinson says the kits can increase better outcomes, especially for babies admitted into the NICU. “By the time they go home, their reserve of lung function still may be somewhat compromised. They will always be susceptible to infection, especially respiratory infections,” explained Robinson. 

Robinson believes the kits will be a crucial tool for high-risk parents in rural areas who lack transportation or have language barriers. “This would be a game changer from life to death,” declared Robinson. 

“This is an extremely effective tool in increasing chances of survival in the face of an emergency, and most importantly, equipping parents with the confidence and the knowledge to be able to administer these life-saving techniques,” said North.  

The kits can be passed along to family and friends so that the life-saving knowledge can be spread. 

At least 2,500 of the newly funded infant CPR kits have been distributed throughout 21 counties, including Bath, Bell, Boyd, Casey, Clark, Estill, Floyd, Garrard, Harlan, Hyden, Jackson, Johnson, Madison, Montgomery, Nicholas, Perry, Pike, Powell, Rockcastle, Rowan, and Warren counties.

Hospitals, clinics and other health care providers interested in requesting kits can contact Kentuckiana Community Impact Director Tracy Monks at tracy.monks@heart.org for more information.  

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