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Holiday Travelers Can Learn Hands-Only CPR at Sea-Tac Airport

Port of Seattle Fire Chief Randy Krause demonstrated how to use the interactive Hands-Only CPR kiosk at Sea-Tac Airport.

The American Heart Association and MultiCare Pulse Heart Institute have unveiled a Hands-Only CPR training kiosk at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Air travelers can train and test their knowledge on the lifesaving skill of Hands-Only CPR in about five minutes.

Port of Seattle fire personnel and others gather around a kiosk

Port of Seattle Fire Department personnel were among those who celebrated unveiling of the new Hands-Only CPR kiosk at Sea-Tac Airport.

The kiosk, located in the airport’s Central Terminal, includes a touch screen display with a video introduction and tutorial, followed by an interactive practice session and a 30-second test to measure efficacy. With the help of a practice Manikin (a rubber torso), the kiosk gives feedback about the depth and rate of compressions and proper hand placement—factors that influence CPR effectiveness. Kiosk users can select the training in English or Spanish and the experience is closed-captioned for accessibility.

Every year, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside the hospital and 70 percent happen in homes. Especially if performed immediately, CPR can double or even triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival. As many people utilize the airport for travel during the holiday season, Sea-Tac is the ideal location to offer this lifesaving training. Travelers can use down-time while waiting for incoming or departing flights to learn and practice compressions and be prepared to respond if they encounter cardiac arrest at their destination.

kiosk with two video screens and a rubber torso of a human being

The Hands-Only CPR kiosk at Sea-Tac Airport features video and a rubber torso for practice and testing.

Duane Bratvold of Bonney Lake is proof of the lifesaving power of CPR. On May 2, 2012, Duane collapsed in his home right as his wife walked in the door. Duane’s wife called 911 and emergency responders arrived within minutes and began CPR. Today, Duane works and enjoys time with his wife, children, and grandchildren.

“I am here today because of CPR—it’s a skill everyone should know,” explains Bratvold. “Cardiac arrest can strike at any time and knowing how to respond is extremely important. After I was released from the hospital, my entire family learned to be lifesavers, including my 6-year-old grandson, Liam. He said he wanted to learn in case his grandpa ever needed CPR again.”

Hands-Only CPR has two simple steps, performed in this order:

  1. When you see a teen or adult collapse suddenly, call 911.
  2. Push hard and fast in the center of the chest at a rate of 100 to 120 beats per minute until help arrives.

If you travel through Sea-Tac International Airport, look for the Hands-Only CPR kiosk and take five minutes to get trained. For more information, visit heart.org/HandsOnlyCPR.


American Heart Association Puget Sound contributed this article and photos. To learn more about local American Heart Association events, click here.

Photo at top: Port of Seattle Fire Chief Randy Krause demonstrated how to use the interactive Hands-Only CPR kiosk at Sea-Tac Airport.

This article originally appeared in the December 2019 issue of AgeWise King County