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GREENSBORO -- This week, health officials from the American Heart Association are taking to remind people of the importance of knowing CPR.

They say it only takes a matter of seconds to learn and it can save your life.

80% of cardiac arrests happen at home, and officials say if you're one of those people who doesn't know CPR, a loved one could be affected.

Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death across the U.S.

Officials say tens of thousands of people in North Carolina learn the lifesaving technique every year, and they want that number to increase.

But officials say along with encouraging more people to learn CPR, they're also trying to dispel some of the fears about doing it.

They say a lot of people are afraid they're going to do more harm than good if they perform CPR, but officials say that is not the case.

“If CPR is not done, 90% of the people who suffer sudden cardiac arrest will not survive," said Sarah Fedele, director of communications at the American Heart Association.

"So the possibility that you may break a rib or do some damage is nothing compared to the alternative of not doing anything."