New African American, LGBT Employee Resource Groups Forming

Employees will soon have a chance to join two new resource groups, if efforts underway to create African American and LGBT employee organizations happen as expected.

Currently, employees can participate in two Employee Resource Groups: the County of San Diego Filipino-American Employees Association and the San Diego County Latino Association. Both are well-established, with well defined missions: to provide professional development, offer cultural activities, participate in recruitment and retention, provide networking and social opportunities and support County initiatives such as Live Well San Diego. Both offer regular events and are led by officers and boards of directors.

The new groups have the full support of Chief Administrative Officer Helen N. Robbins-Meyer and other County executives, said Joe Cordero, Director of the Office of Ethics & Compliance and the executive liaison to the Employee Resource Groups. Cordero said these organizations give voice to employees and send the message that the County values its staff. The organizations encourage higher levels of employee engagement and satisfaction.

“The Employee Resource Groups are a real important part of the organization’s success and part of our diversity initiative,” he said.

Leading the effort to form the African American Association of County Employees is Alison Hunter, an Administrative Analyst III in the Department of Public Works. The longtime County employee said she wanted to create an organization in which African American employees can share their perspectives, culture and professional experiences with each other and the rest of the County. The County government is large and she said African Americans would like to feel better connected.

“A smaller organization creates a sense of community and a central location for other County agencies to invite us to participate in County initiatives,” Hunter said.

Hunter has been busy in recent months laying the groundwork for the group. With help, she has compiled a list of 140 additional employees interested in joining, written draft articles of incorporation and preliminary bylaws now being reviewed by attorneys. She designed the organization’s logo, website and formed an interim board of directors. Executive sponsors have volunteered to help with advice and direction, including Chief Probation Officer Mack Jenkins, Public Health Officer Dr. Wilma Wooten, Public Defender Henry C. Coker and Financial Policy and Planning Director Ebony Shelton. Hunter said she envisions the group offering opportunities for professional growth and a greater sense of community as well.

The next big step will be to choose a Board of Directors and other committee members. Nomination forms are available on the new African American Association of County Employees webpage. Hunter said any employee is welcome to join.

An InSite web page for the new LGBT employee group is also being developed.

The idea for that group came from Supervisor Dave Roberts and is being led by Wes Moore, one of Roberts’ policy advisors.

Roberts said once he heard about the County’s Latino and Filipino-American employee groups, he decided that a similar group for LGBT employees made sense. He envisions the group being a place where employees can connect and discuss issues affecting them. It could host outside speakers and even hold joint events with outside organizations such as the North County  LGBTQ Resource Center in Oceanside, the Lambda Archives LGBT museum in University Heights or other groups. 

“We are a diverse county and an employer that welcomes diversity,” Roberts said.

Roberts said there’s a large number of LGBT employees at the County, and that some have reached out to him since hearing about the plans for this group. All employees will be welcome to join the group, which already has a few executive sponsors: April Heinze, Director of the Department of General Services, as well as allies Jose Aponte, Director of the County Library and Joe Cordero, Director of the Office of Ethics & Compliance. 

Roberts and Moore said there’s already been a lot of enthusiasm towards creating the group, which is in the midst of choosing a name. A kickoff meeting took place June 14 and about 40 people have expressed interest in joining so far. Moore said he’s been studying the bylaws of the other current Employee Resource Groups and that at the next meeting in July, the group plans to finalize its name, bylaws and begin developing a logo. 

For more information on the Latino, Filipino-American or African American employee resource groups, visit their pages on InSite. For more information on the new LGBT employee group, email Wes Moore at wesley.moore@sdcounty.ca.gov.

Moving on Up … to the Top 20!

Talk about bragging rights. General Services’ Fleet Management Division was just recognized by Government Fleet Magazine as being in the top 20 of government fleets in North America. Yes, top 20. Last year, they were in top 100. They came in at 78 and did I mention there are about 38,000 public sector fleet operations in North America?  

Fleet Operations Manager Sharyl Blackington predicted they’d move up in the rankings. Last year, she said the fleet was very proud to be in the top 100 and that next year the fleet was looking forward to being in the top 20. Sure enough, it ranks at 17 now. Numbers one through 16 – look out!

The 100 Best Fleets annual award program is currently in its eighth year and rates fleet performance in 12 categories including: Accountability, Technology Implementation, Resource Stewardship and Competitive Pricing. The program solicits applications from more than 19,000 fleets and performance is judged by an independent panel of recognized Fleet Managers including former winners.

“The reason for our success is the entire team’s dedication and commitment to continuous improvement,” said Blackington. “High quality and cost-effective fleet services are essential to keeping County departments operating to serve the public.”

Fleet Management operates a fleet of approximately 3,900 vehicles and mobile equipment including fire apparatus, law enforcement vehicles, snow plows and lawn mowers as well as cars, trucks and vans.

From a ranking of 78 to 17 in the space of a year, that’s quite an accomplishment. Hmmm, what will happen next year? No pressure…

Adding to Our Apps – There’s a Handbook for That

Renew your library book. Check air pollution levels. Look up property information. And do it all from the coffee shop, the beach, gym or anywhere else you’re “on the go.”

Those are just a few of the things you can do from your smartphone with the County’s latest mobile apps. They’re joining the rest of the quickly expanding lineup in the County App Center, the one-stop shop to get the County’s mobile goods. Some of them are full-fledged phone apps. Others are websites or pages designed for easy access on a smartphone.

“There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to getting in the mobile game,” said David Lindsay, who led the SDCounty2Go initiative. “Different approaches are going to work for different customer services.”

The SDCounty2Go initiative was launched to help the County respond to the skyrocketing demand for information and services on mobile devices. Sales of tablets and smartphones combined already outstrip desktop and laptops together, and the trend is only picking up pace.

The need to make services available to the mobile customer is clear; the road there is less so. Part of the SDCounty2Go team’s task was to help show the way for County staff. Team members invested a lot of effort in analyzing what works and what doesn’t in the mobile field, drawing from research, case studies and industry analysts. They reviewed lessons learned from the County’s early work in the mobile field. Then they sketched out the major steps staff should take to create an app.

The result is the just-completed SDCounty2Go Handbook, a simple guide to getting a mobile app from concept to someone downloading it – and keeping it – on their phone.

“Mobile apps are a great way for us to connect with our customers,” said Chief Information Officer Mikel Haas. “But like anything, there are pitfalls to avoid. Our goal can’t be to just get an app out there. It has to be useful, and the customer has to have a good experience. This handbook is a key resource for making that happen.”

The handbook has factors to consider when you’re trying to define what a mobile app should do, compares different methods of getting one launched, and explains the importance of monitoring reviews of apps after launch. It also includes style guidelines for those designing an app.

Even though he helped write the County’s book on it, Lindsay emphasizes apps are rapidly evolving and there will be more to learn as we progress. For that reason, it’s important that anyone working on apps keep their group IT manager in the loop.

“On each app we’ve launched, it’s been a little different process. The key is to share these experiences and keep newcomers aware of how the field is changing,” Lindsay said.

Volunteers in Probation Annual Golf Tournament is Friday

Some of our County probation officers spend their free time ... helping probationers.

For Maritza Rodriguez, Volunteers in Probation—or V.I.P—means a chance to change lives in a way that’s different from when she’s on the clock.  

“For me, it’s really thinking outside the box, not looking at it through justice system, but seeing the other side of it, as a community member helping,” Rodriguez, a senior probation officer, said.

And, of course, a nonprofit can be a lot of fun too. This Friday, V.I.P’s annual golf tournament and fundraiser promises a good time for a great cause.   

The 17^th annual tournament will begin at noon at the Carlton Oaks Golf Course in San Diego. The $115 entry fee includes the Polynesian-themed tournament, 18 holes, a cart lunch and a dinner banquet. Golf goes until 5 p.m. and is followed by dinner and a silent auction.

Rodriguez says teams of four can register, or, if you don’t play golf or don’t have the day off, you can attend the dinner and auction for $26. It’s all open to anyone, so feel free to spread the word.

The tournament is V.I.P’s major fundraiser, and the money raised pays for items or services that help people, generally probationers, make positive change in their lives. V.I.P helps with things that public funds and other community resources don’t cover, for example, bus passes so probationers without transportation can attend job training. V.I.P funds scholarships for juvenile probationers on the path to college. It helps impoverished families of at-risk adults and juveniles with emergency needs, so that a person trying to make positive changes isn’t set back by financial troubles at home.

Rodriguez says V.I.P is a flexible funding source that embraces creative approaches to changing lives. Recently, a boxing program in Pacific Beach that serves former gang members and at-risk youth and adults lost grant funding and was on the brink of closing its doors. After evaluating the program, V.I.P offered temporary assistance to help the gym stay open while it secures a new grant.

V.I.P’s members are active and retired probation officers and community members who are passionate about helping former criminals ready to move forward and contribute to their families and community.

“Although people do make mistakes, there’s always a chance for improvement, there’s always a chance to make that happen,” said Rodriguez.

To sign up for the golf tournament or learn more about Volunteers in Probation, visit http://www.volunteersinprobation.org/.

New Clinical Director for Behavioral Health

Health care reform is coming and Dr. Michael Krelstein couldn’t be happier.

Why? The new clinical director of County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Behavioral Health Services division believes healthcare reform will lead to easier access to mental health and substance abuse treatment programs.

“This is a great time to be in health care. With the broadening of health care, accessibility is going to increase and there is going to be more parity for mental health, as well as alcohol and drug treatment programs,” said Krelstein. “This is a great time for creativity and the creation of new partnerships that will result in more services to benefit more people.”

As clinical director of BHS, Dr. Krelstein, 47, is now overseeing the planning and directing of countywide and regional behavioral health programs and services, which serve more than 70,000 children and adults every year. Dr. Krelstein is also a member of HHSA’s Clinical Leadership Group, which is working to advance Live Well San Diego, the County’s ongoing initiative to improve the overall health and wellbeing of area residents.

Dr. Krelstein brings an impressive resume to his new position. Over the past seven years, he has provided exemplary medical and clinical leadership to the County Psychiatric Hospital.

Before arriving in San Diego, Krelstein held a clinical leadership role in Las Vegas and worked in emergency and outpatient psychiatry in the Bay Area.  

He received his psychiatric training at UC San Francisco and is board certified in both general and forensic psychiatry.   He is a recognized expert in a range of forensic and medical-legal topics and has received several U.S. Congressional awards for his work with law enforcement.

Dr. Krelstein said he is very excited and enthusiastic about his new position.

“The challenge will be how to design services that offer the best quality of care to the most number of people in a cost-effective way,” Krelstein said. “That will require more partnerships between the public and private sectors.”

After-School Program Rocks, Wins People’s Choice Award

Oh, to be a kid again! 

Children at the Fallbrook Community Center’s after-school program have it made. They’re having all kinds of fun and don’t even know they’re learning at the same time. But their parents, their school teachers and other community members know. They gladly cast their votes for the after-school program with the best enrichment opportunities.

Out of a pool of 314 school sites, the After School Education and Safety (ASES) Program held jointly at La Paloma Elementary School and Park’s Fallbrook Community Center recently won the People’s Choice award from the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE).

No wonder. Throughout the school year, these pre-kindergarten to 6^th grade students learn about wide-ranging topics from healthy cooking, nutrition and gardening to anti-bullying and what it takes to become a junior park ranger. They find out about student council, paying it forward, taking pride in your campus, recycling and reducing. Then there’s the computer lab, the graphic novels, night at the museum, activities for diversity month, the game show, learning the states and capitals song and more. Phew!  

On top of that, the kids play sports and games every day with the idea of getting their heart rates up for at least 30 minutes. But it’s not all fun and games, they spend an hour each afternoon doing homework and getting help with it if they get stuck. The Fallbrook Community Center is the only County Parks facility to offer an after-school program and does so with only seven staff members.

“I’m proud of our staff for winning this award,” said Fallbrook Community Center Director Gordon Stone. “It’s a top notch program with a hard working staff and excellent relationships with teachers and school administration.”

Earlier this year, the center’s program won the Lights On award from SDCOE for going above and beyond the scope of their duties in an after-school program.

The program is funded by the state and the Fallbrook Elementary School District and allows for the enrollment of 120 children. Another 100 kids are on a waiting list.

Some 30 to 40 school children take part in the early morning program. The afternoon session runs from the time school lets out at 2:05 p.m. to 6 p.m. and takes place in the La Paloma classrooms or the Fallbrook Community Center right across the street.

 

Registration is $30 for the entire school year and in this low-income area, the fee can be waived. But it’s not child care, program leaders say, it’s an academic assistance program with enrichment opportunities.  The program director helped get the ASES program off the ground eight years ago and there’s no other place she’d rather be. Ashley Westbrook says she loves it.

“Just seeing the students from our first year already in colleges and seeing their siblings come in - it’s really exciting,” said Westbrook.

Once out of sixth grade, many students want to come back and they do – as volunteers.

“Those volunteers say you were right, you trained us well, we wish we could continue with this program and continue to learn,” said Westbrook.

In a way, the school children and their parents become like a second family. Staff members are often asked to help with kids’ behavior and they give out resources for a variety of other concerns too.

As the school year winds down to a close, you’d think the staff would be glad for a breather but Westbrook says the award just added fuel to the fire to do even more and better things next year. Two additional staff members will help them do just that. One plan is to have the kids explore the STEM program which stands for science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Until then, La Paloma grade schoolers will have to just wait. Unless, of course, they want do summer camp. County Parks runs the seven-week session and some of the same kids will attend thanks to financial help from the after-school program. And so it begins. Fallbrook Community Center will once again look like “Kids ‘R Us!”

County Wins 24 NACo Awards for Outstanding Programs

San Diego County senior citizen Alice Hill puts away fruits and vegetables delivered to her as part of HHSA's More on the Menu (MOM) program.What sort of programs win awards? How about these:

A responsible parent initiative to get non-custodial parents to pay child support, fresh produce delivery for homebound senior citizens, an English and Spanish new homeowners taxpayers guide, a design-build project development modification which reduces time, effort and cost for developers, and educational outreach on interactive science are among some of our 2013 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award winning programs.

The NACo Awards recognize innovative county government programs from throughout the country. In all, the County won 24 NACo Awards for our programs in various categories that aim to modernize county government and increase services to county residents. Winners were notified late last week. San Diego came in second place behind Los Angeles County, which won 25 awards.

The awards are given in 21 categories which include children and youth, civic education and public information, county administration and management, community economic development, emergency management and response, environmental protection and energy, financial management, risk management, health, libraries, and parks and recreation.

Award winning programs needed to demonstrate excellent results.

Child Support’s Responsible Parent Initiative was able to collect $140,000 from 107 non-custodial parents by working with community-based organizations and fatherhood networks.

HHSA’s More on the Menu program provides more than 250 low-income and homebound seniors with a weekly delivery of 7-10 fruits and vegetables to help them meet nutritional needs.

DEH’s educational outreach program engages more than 3,000 elementary, middle and high school students and shows them how science concepts relate to the job of an Environmental Health Specialist. The goal is to attract students with fun scientific demonstrations such as cryogenically freezing flowers and rubber toys. Awards also needed to demonstrate a public need.

The Tax-Treasurer’s New Homeowners Taxpayers Guide available in English and Spanish is distributed through realtors and explains how property tax bills are calculated and how it funds maintenance and improvements in our communities.

General Service’s Design-Build Project Development program was refined to lessen preparation time from 13 weeks to six weeks and reduce cost to developers. As a result, well-qualified firms will see the Design-Build projects as their first choice.

Other award winning programs are:

Public Safety Group

• Establishing Local Assistance Centers (Office of Emergency Services)
• San Diego Emergency Smart Phone Application (Office of Emergency Services)
• Forensic Pathology Residency Training and Autopsy Orientation Program (Medical Examiner)
• Graffiti Tracker (Board Offices/Sheriff)
• Sheriff’s Analysis-Driven Law Enforcement (Sheriff)
• JFAST: Juvenile Forensic Assistance for Stabilization and Treatment Program (Public Defender)
• San Diego Clean Slate Expungement Clinic (Public Defender)
• Child Support Customer E-Message (Child Support Services)
• Responsible Parenting Initiative (Child Support Services)

Health & Human Services Agency

• Neighborhoods for Kids – Bella Vista Community Engagement Project (East Region Child Welfare Services)
• A Look at Poverty - Making a Difference Training (HHSA Human Resources)
• HHSA Long-Term Leaves Program - Process and Tracking (HHSA Human Resources)
• Lean Six Sigma Capacity Building Initiative (HHSA Human Resources)
• ICARE: Integrated Physical Health Care Resources for Mental Health Clients (Behavioral Health Services)
• School-Based Mental Health Worker Career Pathway Program (Behavioral Health Services)
• Low Income Health Program Pay- For-Performance (Health Care Policy Administration)
• More on the Menu (MOM) - Fresh Produce for Homebound Seniors (Aging & Independence Services)

Finance & General Government Group

• New Homeowners Property Tax Guide - English/Spanish (Treasurer-Tax Collector)
• San Diego Investment Pool Temporary Transfer Fund Program (Treasurer-Tax Collector)
• Treasurer-Tax Collector Property Tax Checks Only Process (Treasurer-Tax Collector)
• Mentor Partnership Program (Human Resources)

Community Services Group

•  Design-Build Project Development (General Services)
• 1st Grade @ the Library (Library)

Land Use & Environment Group

• Putting the “WOW” factor into Educational Outreach (Department of Environmental Health)

County Lawyers Accept Service Award Before A Jury of Their Peers

Deputy Public Defenders Frank Barone (right), David Lamb and Randy Mize (left) pose with former Chargers cornerback Quentin Jammer at one of their outreach charity golf tournaments.

A San Diego County deputy public defender and a deputy district attorney were each honored with a 2013 San Diego County Bar Association Service Award and are both featured in this month’s San Diego Lawyer magazine.

The two were among 10 recipients selected countywide.

Deputy Public Defender Frank Barone, 42, who has worked for the Office of the Primary Public Defender for 15 years, was chosen for his work as a founding member of the Public Defender Community Outreach Program, a volunteer charity organization composed of Public Defender staff.  

“We do some great work and we’re certainly proud of it,” he said of the outreach organization.

Barone said someone submitted his name for the award without telling him and he got a call letting him know he’d been selected for it while he was on vacation. He gives the outreach program credit for the honor but clearly he has strong ideals about public service.

 “As members of the Bar, we have the unique opportunity to use our education, specialized knowledge and influence within the community to help others. We should feel compelled to use those resources to assist those less fortunate,” he told the magazine.

Barone said he and Deputy Public Defender David Lamb started the program in 2009. The two work with a committee of others in the office to make charitable selections and plan events. All the Public Defender volunteers are involved because they care about helping others, he said.

The organization’s flagship charity event is a golf tournament that benefits the San Pasqual Academy, the County-operated residential high school for foster children.  In the four years since it formed, the organization has raised nearly $100,000, he said.

The outreach organization has also branched out to include fundraising for other charitable organizations such as Reality Changers, Outdoor Outreach, Village of Promise, and the San Diego Mock Trial Competition, Barone said.

To learn more about the work done by the Public Defender Community Outreach Program, visit http://www.pd-outreach.org/.

Deputy District Attorney George Loyd accepts his service award for his work with the Veteran's Court.Deputy District Attorney George Loyd also accepted an award for his instrumental role in launching Veterans Court, was which offers tailored treatment to non-violent veterans who are going through the criminal justice system.

“I’m honored to be recognized for this pilot program, which has already helped dozens of veterans get their lives on track,” said Loyd. “This program saves money for San Diego County in the long run and addresses some of the issues faced by veterans, including post-traumatic stress disorder.”

The program began in 2011 and helps combat veterans avoid costly incarceration and divert them to mental health treatment programs to help them become productive citizens. The court is a collaborative effort that includes the Superior Court, District Attorney’s Office, Defense Bar, treatment providers and the California Veteran’s Legal Task Force.

Loyd said the program’s success is also due to his fellow Deputy District Attorney’s Harrison Kennedy and Evan Miller who work alongside him in managing the Veterans Court.

“I’m so proud of Deputy DA George Loyd and all who have worked so hard to make Veterans Court successful in its first year,” said District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis. “Our goal is to work together to stop the revolving door to prison. Veterans Court acknowledges the particular challenges faced by the men and women who have served our country while at the same time holding offenders accountable.”

Veterans in the program are monitored with regular court hearings and are supported by Veterans Affairs and other community-based organizations.

 “I think we all have some responsibility to help make this world a litter better place,” Loyd told the magazine.

Finding Peace--and Better Health--through Pedaling

 Sheriff's Cpl. Chuck Russell headed home from work at the County Administration Center on a recent day. He rides his lightweight carbon fiber-framed bicycle from home in San Marcos to work and back a few days a week.

Chuck Russell hadn’t ridden a bike in decades. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Cpl. didn’t even own one anymore.

But he knew he needed to get in shape.

Running for exercise had gotten harder on his middle-aged frame, and his doctor had ordered him to lose weight and get healthy.

“He said, ‘I’ll be surprised if you make it to 60 (years old),” Russell said. “He told me I was going to have a stroke or a heart attack.”

Over the years, Russell had whittled down his waist size by running and eating less.

But four years ago, at age 56, he decided he needed to do more. He figured he would revisit one of his passions as a young man: cycling. Decades earlier during college, Russell had trained with a cycling club and even competed in some cycling races.

He started out slow, first buying a used mountain bike and riding just a few miles at night and on the weekends.

Now, he makes the 36-mile bicycle trek between his home in San Marcos and work at the County Administration Center downtown a few times a week. His compelling story fits with the goals of the County’s Employee Wellness program, which encourages employees to develop healthy choices.

What pushes Russell to pedal so far? The endorphins and the peace of mind he said he gets from riding.

Riding along the coastline, next to the ocean waves, helps him clear his head.

The exercise doesn’t hurt either. He’s almost down to his high school-age pant size, after dropping about 30 lbs. since he started to riding again. His blood pressure and cholesterol are at healthy levels now. Russell said he hopes to lose at least another 10 lbs. with help too from a protein, vegetable and fruit rich diet.

Over the years, Russell said his weight had ballooned due to what he described as his lack of discretion over his eating, combined with a lack of exercise. A star athlete growing up, he’d become obese and developed the common health problems that come with it: high blood pressure, high cholesterol.

“I would eat anything,” he said. “Cheeseburgers. Donuts. Cupcakes. Candy. Soda. Whatever was sitting around…I’m lucky I’m still alive because I was so overweight.”

He started feeling dizzy, depressed--terrible, he said.

When he first started biking again, Russell said he could barely ride uphill. He would ride maybe three, four miles at a time.

He built enough strength and confidence to try the 10 mile ride each way from home to the Coaster train station in Encinitas, where he would catch the train to work in downtown San Diego. Russell works as a supervisor, overseeing the Sheriff’s department staff at the County Administration Center. 

Eventually, he decided he’d try to ride the whole way to work. He navigated a route south on the Coast Highway, past Torrey Pines State Reserve and through the UCSD campus, then through Rose Canyon, around Mission Bay and along Pacific Highway.

The 36 mile ride each way between home and the CAC takes him about two hours and 20 min. total. Sometimes he shortens his ride a bit, driving his car from home to the Encinitas Coaster station, then riding on bike the next 26 miles to the CAC, or taking the Coaster to Encinitas, then riding the final 10 miles home. He squeezes in more riding on the weekends.

One way or another, “I’m riding a bike every day,” he said.

Last month, he said he rode a total of 982 miles.

On the days he rides to work, Russell carries everything he needs in a bag over his shoulder. He stores his Sheriff’s department uniform in a locker at work. For his commute, he dons bike pants, a cycling jersey, cycling shoes that lock into the pedals and a helmet. Over the years, he upgraded from a used mountain bike to a lightweight, carbon fiber-framed bicycle with thin wheels.

In addition to the health benefits, Russell said he’s made a lot of friends bicycling. He meets up with several other cyclists who also commute from North County to ride segments together. Turns out there’s a whole group who used to ride the Coaster and now bike to work instead.

There have been several close calls with cars, and one minor crash. But Russell was OK. He tries to be as careful as he can.

He plans to commute well into the future.

“It’s a passion,” he said. “It makes me young.”

Learn a Life-saving Skill in 5 Minutes

Employees at the County Operations Center or the North Inland Public Health Center can do something potentially life changing on their breaks or lunch hour Tuesday. And it will only take five minutes.

As part of the annual “Sidewalk CPR” day, County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Emergency Medical Services staff will be offering hands-only CPR training to County employees from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the 5510 building at the COC and the Public Health Center at 606 East Valley Parkway in Escondido.

Hands-only CPR is cardio pulmonary resuscitation without the mouth-to-mouth breaths and is recommended for use by people who see an adult suddenly collapse. (Traditional CPR is still recommended for all infants and children, drowning victims and adult victims who are already found unconscious and not breathing).

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease. Every year about 785,000 Americans have a first heart attack. Approximately 470,000 people who have already had one or more attacks have another.

The prompt delivery of CPR more than doubles a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival by helping maintain a blood flow to the heart and brain.