Troup County American Medical response emergency medical technicians are playing a part in a new world record. Most importantly, it could save a lot of lives.

AMR is trying to break its own world record as part of the fifth annual CPR challenge. The goal is to teach a million people worldwide what to do when they find someone unconscious.

AMR is teaching people hands-only CPR, since many people are too worried about breathing for the knocked-out person that they don’t focus enough on the chest compressions.

According to the American Red Cross, the first key to CPR is to check the scene and to check on the person. Find out if the person is OK and call 9-1-1 if you don’t get a response.

If the person is still unresponsive and not breathing, begin chest compressions.

The Red Cross says to place the heel of one hand on the center of the chest and to place the heel of the other hand on the top of the first hand, lacing your fingers together.

Keep your arms straight, position your shoulder directly over your hands and begin to push hard and fast.

They say to compress the chest at least two inches and at least 100 times per minute. Each time let the chest rise completely before pushing down again. They say to continue doing compressions unless the person begins breathing, another trained person or EMS arrives and takes over or an automated external defibrillator is ready to use.

We write all this because the importance of knowing CPR and being able to administer it cannot be understated. It’s easy to think that the need to give CPR will never happen in your life, but that’s the wrong mindset.

It’s better to be prepared, just in case. Being able to give CPR might be able to save a life. AMR plans to show people how to give chest compressions at the Walmart Supercenter and the Walmart Neighborhood Watch on Wednesday.