Citizen CPR event and health fair provides training that can help save a life
CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a critical life saving skill that is simple enough for us all to learn. At some point our lives, a friend or loved one may need immediate medical attention because their heart stopped, and we may be the closest available option before trained medical professionals arrive. CPR is designed to steady circulation and provide oxygenated blood to the victim’s brain while their heart is not beating. Properly performed CPR can maintain oxygenated blood flow to the brain while paramedics are on their way to the scene, which is critical to victims suffering from cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest kills hundreds of thousands of people in the United States every year, but CPR is a skill that— when learned and performed properly— can help decrease those numbers.
Citizen CPR, an organization run by Susan Barnham, is hosting a free mass CPR training event on Saturday, November 15. This event will be held on campus of the Polk State College Student Center, located at 999 Avenue H NE, Winter Haven. Everyone is invited to attend; guests can register from 8:30-9 a.m. on the day of the event, but online pre-registration is encouraged. Adult and child CPR training will be offered, as well as training for use of AEDs, or automated external defibrillators. In addition to the annual CPR training, which begins at 9 a.m., Citizen CPR is also featuring a health fair this year. The health fair offers attendees free glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol testing and takes places from 8-9 a.m. When done regularly, these diagnostic tests can help those at risk of several serious diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, and encourage prevention and early detection. Guests will be offered a light breakfast, and the CPR training will take place from 9-10:30 a.m. Susan Barnham explains that she is “very excited about the health fair,” because she believes it will attract new people who want to be healthier and “that’s always a good thing!”
The November 15 event will also feature a guest speaker, Chandler Glofelty, who saved a life after attending a citizen CPR training event. He attended with his church youth group when he was just 14 years old, and saved a runner’s life while running at Lake Hollingsworth by using his valuable skill. Now 16 years old, Chandler will speak about his experience and the importance of learning CPR.
It should be stressed that this training session does not provide CPR certification— it is strictly an educational training course for the average person. Possessing knowledge of CPR can enable us to save the lives of those around us; the more people applying their knowledge to save lives, the better! As Burnham points out, “A short time in this class may make a lifetime of difference.”
CREDITS
story by JULIE GMITTER