In recognition of World Heart Day on Sept. 29, Southern Connecticut State University unveiled a new hands-only CPR training kiosk at Hilton C. Buley Library, offering students, faculty and visitors the chance to learn lifesaving skills in just minutes.
The event, held in collaboration with the American Heart Association and Hartford HealthCare, featured remarks from university and organizational representatives and live demonstrations of the kiosk’s interactive technology.
“It’s really important that we teach hands-only CPR to students, faculty, staff and visitors,” said Dr. Ayanna Walker, associate dean of the College of Health and Human Services. “It is the leading cause of death in the U.S., and it disproportionately affects Black Americans, Hispanics and Latinos, and Indigenous people.”
The kiosk, which remains a fixture on the library’s first floor, guides users through a quick video tutorial and a practice session using a built-in manikin, providing real-time feedback on compression depth, rhythm, and hand placement. Users can also take a 30-second test to reinforce what they’ve learned.
According to the American Heart Association, more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of hospitals each year in the U.S., but less than half of those victims receive CPR from a bystander. By making CPR training quick, accessible, and free, the kiosk helps close that gap and turns everyday people into potential lifesavers.
Unlike stationary CPR kiosks, the device at Southern is one of just eight mobile kiosks in the United States, capable of traveling between community locations to expand its impact.
“We know if CPR is performed immediately, it can double or triple a person’s chance of survival. Having a kiosk on campus like this can truly turn bystanders into lifesavers,” said Adria Giordano, executive director of the American Heart Association in Connecticut.
The CPR kiosk is available during regular library hours through Nov. 6. Members of the public are welcome to visit and test their CPR skills.
Read more: WTNH: Mobile CPR training kiosk teaches SCSU students lifesaving skills
