The medical community in Golden is getting back to basics, and they would like you to join them.
Last spring, three medical professionals got together to organize a fundraiser, CPR Wars, which pitted various medical and emergency services teams against each other to raise money for a CPR program.
“The event was definitely a lot of fun, but the goal was always to raise enough money to offer a CPR program here in Golden,” said Zoe Evans, a Registered Nurse with the Golden Hospital. “And now we’re ready to get the program started.”
Evans, together with fellow RN Janice LaRoy, and Dr. Bruce McKnight, organized the event because they recognized the need for more community members to educated in this basic life saving skill.
The three will be volunteering their time to teach CPR to whoever signs up for the program, and get them certified in BLS (basic life support).
“Bystander CPR is the most affective,” said Evans. In fact, the Heart & Stroke Foundation says that up to 85 per cent of cardiac arrests occur outside of hospitals, where there probably isn’t a trained medical professional around. That highlights the importance of bystander CPR, as whoever is closest to someone experiencing a heart attack could be the one to save his or her life.
“CPR is the most important thing you can do for someone who is having a heart attack,” added Evans. “So the more people in our community who are trained in this life save skill, the better for everyone.”
The first course will take place on Oct. 5 from 6 to 10 p.m. (or earlier, depending on how quickly people pick it up). They can take as many as 12 students.
Anyone interested in participating can contact Evans at cprwars@gmail.com.
