BATON ROUGE — The American Heart Association is highlighting World Restart a Heart Day—a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness about how ordinary bystanders can save lives during a cardiac emergency.

According to health officials, immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can dramatically increase a victim's odds of survival, yet many people hesitate to act out of uncertainty.

The American Heart Association emphasizes that effective CPR comes down to two simple steps using Hands-Only CPR.

First, call 911. It's important to immediately contact emergency medical services or instruct someone nearby to make the call and retrieve an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) if available.

Second, push hard and fast. Place both hands in the center of the person's chest and push down hard at a rate of 100 to 120 beats per minute—matching the tempo of the song "Stayin' Alive."

Emergency care experts stress that you don't need formal medical training to take action: taking quick initiative before paramedics arrive is the single most critical factor in surviving sudden cardiac arrest.