(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Illinois, but Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller said many people don't actually know much about heart health — and with February being American Heart Month, Miller said one of the county’s goals is to change that.
“It's really to encourage Americans and people to join that battle against heart disease and to get more educated about what heart disease is, especially in underserved communities,” she said.
In Black and Hispanic communities, specifically, Miller said residents are less likely to perform bystander CPR. Women, she added, are less likely to receive bystander CPR than men.
“We need to get out and educate our communities on these disparities, because some people who are in those communities might not think that that's what's happening in their communities, when they could be part of the solution,” she said.
CPR training resources can be found online from the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross or by partnering with a local fire department.
“Most heart incidents happen at home, so a loved one [or] whoever's in your house with you can be the person to actually save your life,” said Miller. “If we increase those numbers of people who actually know CPR, we're going to actually decrease those numbers of deaths due to cardiac incidents.”
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