Red Cross CPR Training Saves Lives

Have you called to schedule your CPR/AED Training? If not, what are you waiting for? You could save someone’s life!

Story by Andy Duchow, American Red Cross volunteer

June 1-7, 2011 is CPR/AED Awareness week.  It is a time where the Red Cross focuses on increasing awareness of the importance of CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training for saving lives in our communities. 

The importance of CPR training recently hit home for Holly Bauer, a Red Cross CPR instructor and School Nurse for the Weyawega – Fremont School District.  She recently held a class for district staff.  One of the people in attendance was the school secretary, who went home and told her sister some of the things she had learned. 

That Sunday, the secretary’s sister was in church when her 3 year old grandson started choking.  She remembered how her sister had demonstrated the use of back blows and was able to dislodge the candy her grandson was choking on. 

Each year more than 300,000 people suffer sudden cardiac arrest.  Having someone nearby trained in hands-only CPR could mean the difference between life and death for every one of them.

Hands-only CPR is a potentially life saving technique that uses no mouth to mouth contact.  For more information, please download a quick reference sheet for hands-only CPR here or visit the Red Cross site for training opportunities.

Only 30 minutes of time at one of the Citizen CPR classes offered through your local Red Cross chapter will prepare you with the knowledge and confidence to save lives.