Hands-only CPR: Mouth-to-mouth no longer necessary, doctors say

A new heart health campaign called "Hands-Only CPR" shows simple steps that could help save a life when someone goes into cardiac arrest.

Ashley was saved by her dance partners, who she calls her "life-savers," and Dorothy was saved by her daughter, Cindy.

"I want people to know that CPR is really easy," Cindy said.

A new initiative aims to empower everyone to jump in and do CPR when needed - hands only.

"It's really important for people to realize that mouth to mouth is no longer required. The only thing that is required to save someone's life is to do hands only CPR," said Dr. Holly Andersen, director of Education and Outreach at the Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute.

The numbers are staggering. More than 90 percent of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests will die. About 70 percent of cardiac arrests happen at home.

"We want to do nothing short of changing the social norms by empowering people to know what to do," Andersen said.

Celebrities like Michael J. Fox, Juliana Margulies and Michael Bloomberg joined the crusade, lending their hands to #HandsOnlyCPR.

"There are three steps to saving someone's life. Check, call and compress. Check to see if they are breathing, call 911 and then begin chest compressions," Andersen said.