From the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District
Considering that 300,000 Americans fall victim to sudden cardiac arrest each year, learning CPR and how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) can quite possibly mean the difference between life and death.
With February being American Heart Month and Thursday being Valentine’s Day, the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District and the HeartSafe Community Program challenges everyone to learn this important life saving skill.
“CPR is something everyone should learn, like riding a bike or learning to swim,” said Edie Farrell San Ramon Valley HeartSafe Community Committee member and the wife of a sudden cardiac arrest survivor. “You never know when you will need to use CPR or whose life you will save, my ‘Valentine’ is here today because someone knew CPR and saved his life.”
San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District is committed to increasing the number of citizens in our valley that know CPR and understand how to use an AED. The District offers take home kits so residents can learn with their families and sponsors sidewalk CPR instruction at local community events.
“With the new ‘Hands-Only’ CPR method, learning CPR is now easier than ever,” said Captain Andy Swartzell, Emergency Medical Services Coordinator for the Fire District. “Both the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association teaches, if you see an adult collapse, simply call 911 and then push hard and fast in the center of the patient’s chest until help arrives.”
The HeartSafe Community Committee will be teaching the hands only CPR technique on Monday, May 27 at the San Ramon Art and Wind Festival. All you have to do is give the committee a few minutes of your time and they will teach you how to save a life.
For more information on CPR or to sign-up for a CPR class visit www.firedepartment.org/CPR and to learn more about the District’s HeartSafe Community Program visit www.firedepartment.org/heartsafe.
