Sanibel fire taking registrations for CPR/AED class
The island community is encouraged to sign up for a class that could help save a life one day.
The Sanibel Fire and Rescue District is taking registrations for the Heartsaver CPR/AED First Aid course on June 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Station 171 on Sanibel. Taught by certified American Heart Association instructors with the district, participants will learn how to recognize and perform CPR on an individual in cardiac arrest and how to render basic first aid during certain medical emergencies.
“We want this kind of information disseminated because early access is vital to survivability,” Capt. John DiMaria said, explaining that people with CPR training can apply it until first responders arrive.
“It increases the survivability rate by 80 percent,” he added.
Class participants will start off learning about CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
“What we teach is the dynamics of CPR and why it’s important,” DiMaria said.
Instructors will cover compressions, including why they are important, proper form and hand placement. Participants will learn how to open a person’s airway and provide rescue breathing. They also will learn how to apply those techniques to different patients: adults, children and infants.
“There’s different techniques based on the size of who you’re doing CPR on,” he said.
Participants will learn about AEDs, or automated external defibrillators.
“The AED is a machine that recognizes two, specific lethal heart rhythms,” DiMaria said, explaining that the machine then delivers an electrical shock to help the heart re-establish a normal rhythm.
“We teach people how to use it,” he added. “It’s a very simple machine to use.”
Another topic covered is adult, child and infant choking. Participants will learn how to clear each patient’s airway of obstruction, as well as what to do it they find they cannot clear the airway.
“We also introduce basic first aid emergencies,” DiMaria said.
He explained that participants will learn how to recognize common emergencies, like a heart attack, stroke or diabetic incident, and what they can do to help the person until first responders arrive.
“It’s mostly trying to recognize these major medical events that people have,” DiMaria said.
He noted that the course entails a lot of practice and hands-on application.
“The goal is to ensure they have the knowledge on how to recognize and respond to these medical emergencies,” he said. “But we also want them to be comfortable doing it.”
Registration is open to all ages.
“There’s no age limit to this class,” DiMaria said, explaining that fifth-graders at The Sanibel School were scheduled to take part in the course on May 26, so families are welcome to sign up together.
Space is limited to 12 participants, and the public is invited to reserve a spot.
“It’s a priceless class that gives individuals the ability to recognize when somebody may be having one of these medical events,” he said, noting that it could be a family member or stranger on the street.
“If everybody has the knowledge and skills and abilities, it gives our community a better chance at surviving an event like this,” DiMaria added.
The cost is $30 per person. Participants will receive a student manual and certification card.
For more information or to register, contact DiMaria at 239-472-5525 or jdimaria@sanibelfire.com.
Those unable to attend the June 17 course can have their name put on a list for notifications about future classes. In addition, the district offers the class to businesses, organizations and groups.
“We can go to them, or they can come to us,” he said.
Station 171 is at 2351 Palm Ridge Road, Sanibel.