It Only Takes Two Steps to Save a Life
This is a guest post provided by the American Heart Association
If you watched someone collapse, would you know what to do?
You can. And it only takes two steps.
This February, Pilot is supporting the American Heart Association through its stores in the U.S. and the Heart & Stroke Foundation through its stores in Canada to promote heart health and empower team members and guests with lifesaving skills. As part of this relationship, we're sharing essential information about Hands-Only CPR.
What to Do When Someone Collapses
When a teen or adult suddenly collapses from a cardiac emergency, stay calm. You have the tools to make a difference. All you need is a phone and your hands.
Step 1: Call 911
Step 2: Push hard and fast in the center of the chest
Check if the person is breathing or responsive. If not, start chest compressions at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute and don't stop until emergency responders arrive.
Is it really that simple? It is!
Learn Hands-Only CPR in 90 Seconds
Learning Hands-Only CPR is easy. Watch this 90-second demonstration video from the American Heart Association. That's all it takes to turn from a bystander into a lifesaver.
For Pilot team members: Throughout February, you have access to free Hands-Only CPR training, blood pressure checks, and heart health resources. Check your internal communications for details on how to access these lifesaving tools.
Why This Matters
According to the American Heart Association, more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in the United States each year.1 Heart disease and stroke remain two of the nation's biggest health threats, impacting approximately 1.5 million Americans annually2 including our team members, their loved ones, and the guests Pilot serves.
Yet bystanders only intervene less than half the time3, often due to uncertainty or lack of training. The reality is stark: nine out of every 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital die because they don't receive immediate CPR.4
But here's the good news: CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a person's chance of surviving sudden cardiac arrest.5
Cardiac arrest can affect anyone, anywhere—at the gym, in the grocery store, during a child's soccer game, or at a travel center. That's why the American Heart Association is working to educate at least one person in every household in Hands-Only CPR to build a Nation of Lifesavers.
Join the Fight Against Heart Disease and Stroke
This February, Pilot is taking action to combat the nation's #1 and #4 killers. From January 30 - February 22, you can support the fight at participating Pilot, Flying J and One9 Travel Centers by:
Buying a paper heart ($1, $3, or $5)
Rounding up your purchase at checkout
Donating when you place a mobile order in the app
Your generosity funds heart health education and resources. Together, we can change the outcome for the 1.5 million Americans affected by heart attacks and strokes each year. Learn more at pilotcompany.com/heart-month.
References
Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2023 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2023;147:e93-e621. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001123
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Million Hearts. Risks for Heart Disease and Stroke. Available at: https://millionhearts.hhs.gov/about-million-hearts/science-facts/risks.html
CARES. 2023 Annual Report. Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival. Available at: https://mycares.net/sitepages/uploads/2024/2023%20Annual%20Report_WEB.pdf
Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2023 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2023;147:e93-e621. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001123
Blewer AL, McGovern SK, Schmicker RH, et al. Association of Bystander and First-Responder Efforts and Outcomes According to Sex: Results From the North Carolina HeartRescue Statewide Quality Improvement Initiative. J Am Heart Assoc. 2018;7(4):e007968. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.117.007968