More lives saved by CPR, AEDs

DURHAM, N.C. (WPVI) -- There are signs more ordinary people are saving lives through CPR.

Two new studies show the more people do this, the more lives that are saved.

Records from 11 North Carolina counties and a major Japanese city show that cardiac arrest victims getting bystander C-P-R followed by defibrillation are twice as likely to survive.

And they have far less disability than those who don't get that early treatment.

It's still vital to call 9-1-1 if you see cardiac arrest, but Dr. Carolina Malta Hansen, co-leader of the Duke University study, says don't wait for emergency crews.

"Start chest compressions immediately. If there is an automated defibrillator in the vicinity, take it and use it. You will not cause this person any harm," she says.

And both studies also show that more bystanders are getting involved.

That is likely because more AED's are available, and because you can do compression-only CPR.

You don't have to do mouth-to-mouth anymore.