American Red Cross Hosts “CPR Saturday”

From the Red Cross:

The Southern Tier Chapter of the American Red Cross will host “CPR Saturday” on March 30, when Southern Tier residents will be able to take a free, 30-minute course to learn how to perform hands-only CPR.

The Red Cross is offering three courses at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., and 11 a.m. Saturday, March 30, between Cinnabon and Van Cott Jewelers at Oakdale Mall in Johnson City. Following the course, a local AmeriCorps member will hold an optional 15-minute presentation on how to be prepared in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.

“CPR Saturday” is being held in conjunction with Red Cross Month. March was first proclaimed as Red Cross Month by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1943, and every president, including President Obama, has designated March as Red Cross Month.

“CPR Saturday gives us an opportunity to close Red Cross Month by giving Southern Tier residents free training that could save a loved one’s life,” said Shelley Bierwiler, Community Chapter Executive of the Southern Tier Chapter. “Research has shown that continuous hands-only CPR can be effective in caring for a person with no signs of life when a rescuer is unable, untrained or unwilling to perform full CPR.”

The course will teach participants when and how to perform hands-only CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Participants of all ages are welcome. The instructor will be an American Red Cross-certified CPR instructor.

A certificate will not be issued for the course. The Red Cross recommends training in full CPR for people who are workplace responders; live or play around water or own a residential pool or hot tub; have children or work with children; or have a job-related duty to respond.

Space is limited to 20 people per session and pre-registration is required. To register, contact Jeanie Tomkalski at (607) 734-3317 or jeanie.tomkalski@redcross.org.