Hands-only CPR is a proven lifesaver, and a new interactive kiosk at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) makes the lifesaving measure teachable and accessible to the thousands of staff and passengers that traverse through the airport each day.

On Nov. 22 at the CPR Kiosk location at Terminal E near the food court area, an unveiling and demonstration took place. The American Heart Association (AHA) and United Airlines teamed up and launched a new interactive kiosk designed to teach Hands-Only CPR that can save lives at IAH.  IAH is an ideal location for a training kiosk due to the large number of people who can be reached.

The kiosk, operated by the AHA, is the first of its kind in a Houston airport and provides Hands-Only CPR training in about five minutes. The AHA is planning additional kiosk placements throughout Greater Houston in the coming months, according to AHA spokesperson Stacy Christian.

Every year, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside the hospital and more than 20% (one out of five) occur in public places like airports, casinos and sporting facilities.  Survival from cardiac arrest depends on immediately receiving CPR.  Studies show that Hands-Only CPR is equally as effective as conventional mouth-to-mouth CPR, and people are more likely to feel comfortable performing it. 

In Houston, the CPR bystander rate is 49% and has dropped over the last year from 51%, meaning that there is currently less than a 50/50 chance that someone will receive CPR in an emergency.

The kiosk features a touch screen with a video program that provides a brief introduction and overview of Hands-Only CPR, followed by a practice session and a 30-second test. With the help of a practice mannequin or a rubber torso, the kiosk gives feedback about the depth and rate of compressions and proper hand placement – factors that influence the effectiveness of CPR.  “The entire training takes about five minutes,” Christian said.

HAS Chief Infrastructure Officer Bob Barker said that the training kiosk was a welcome addition to IAH, and he looked forward to additional installations. “Customer service continues to be a hallmark of Houston Airports,” Barker said. “The kiosks and the accompanying training heighten awareness and further strengthen our desire to serve our passengers, our partners and our community with distinction.”