For this Valentine’s Day, you and your loved ones can share the ultimate gift – the gift of life. Residents, ages eight and up, can learn how to save a life during the third annual Weston Community CPR Day. It takes place on Saturday, February 22nd at the Weston Community Center.
“The month of February reminds us to make sure we take the time to show how much we care about and love each other,” states BSO Weston District Fire Chief Todd Draizin. “This year’s theme ‘Healthy Hearts – The Beat Goes On’ reminds us to make healthy choices and to learn CPR. In less than one hour we can teach you and your family how to save a loved one’s life with Hands Only CPR as well as Bleeding Control techniques.”
Community CPR Day is presented by the City of Weston, Broward Sheriff’s Office Department of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services, and Cleveland Clinic Florida. Throughout the program, firefighter/paramedics and healthcare workers will teach attendees how to perform Hands Only CPR, how to operate an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) and how to control life-threatening bleeding.
Chief Draizin encourages everyone to take advantage of this free program, because the life you save will likely be someone you know. “The quicker these life-saving techniques are applied the better chance for the patient to have minimal complications and have a positive patient outcome, also known as quality of life. Since family members and bystanders are often the first to witness emergencies they can offer the victims the greatest chance of survival by starting CPR, using an AED or initiating bleeding control techniques before EMS responders arrive.”
Time is of the essence, especially when it comes to cardiac arrest. According to Chief Draizin, there is a short window of time to prevent permanent injury, including death, by restoring blood flow artificially until the body can resume normal function. “According to the American Heart Association (AHA), when CPR is initiated within the first few minutes of a victim’s collapse, combined with pre-hospital EMS care, the victim’s chance of survival increases by as much as fifty percent.”
The good news is that almost anyone can perform Hands Only CPR. Chief Draizin says children as young as eight have saved lives using this simple technique. “According to the AHA, Hands Only CPR has just two easy steps. First, call 9-1-1 if you see a teen or adult suddenly collapse. Then, push hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of a familiar song that has 100 to 200 beats per minute. Song examples include Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees or Baby Shark by PinkFong. Keep it up until paramedics arrive.”
No reservation is required to participate in Community CPR Day. Simply stop by the Weston Community Center on February 22nd anytime between 10am and 2pm.
Community CPR Day Teaches Lifesaving LessonsBSO Weston offers a Hands Only CPR class with bleeding control at the Community Center each month. It also offers free traditional “Heart Saver” CPR classes to Weston residents and businesses. To register for these classes, contact Mary Ann Caporrino at 954-389-2015.