By Nicole MOORE
 
On Thursday, Glendale Fire Station 29 on Honolulu Avenue participated in the countywide Sidewalk CPR training event. Firefighters from the station were found in front of the Montrose Library, just east of the Station 29, eager to teach “hands only” CPR techniques.

According to a press release by the County of Los Angeles, 90% of people who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests die; however, it only takes 10 minutes or less to learn how to keep a cardiac arrest victim alive until paramedics arrive. Last year, more than 7,000 people in Los Angeles County learned how to save a life in just a few minutes with a quick lesson from local firefighters and medical professionals. This year, the goal is to train at least 6,000 more. Various fire departments throughout the greater Los Angeles area set up over 50 sites to help community members learn hands only CPR.

Jason Gonzalez, who has worked for the Glendale Fire Dept. for the past seven months, said he believes it is important to help teach the community how to perform CPR.

“I think [community outreach] is very important because it takes us a few minutes to get to the calls,” said Gonzalez adding that brain cells begin to die quickly when deprived of oxygen. “As soon as chest compressions are started it gives the person who’s in cardiac arrest a better chance of survival. CPR and chest compressions are very important and I think the community should know how to do it. It can happen any time and a lot of people don’t know what to do.”

Hands-only CPR focuses on the first few minutes following a cardiac arrest, since the lungs and blood contain only enough oxygen to keep vital organs healthy for that amount of time. While emergency responders are on their way to the scene, chest compressions using hands-only CPR will provide the ongoing blood flow needed to give the patient a much better chance of survival once responders arrive, stated the release.

Casey Patrick is an ambulance operator for the City of Glendale.

“I think it’s good to reach out to the community and give them a better understanding of how to help someone in a life threatening situation or emergency. It’s really good for us to get there and teach the community how to give this person a better chance of survival by just doing hands only CPR,” stated Patrick.

Participants of the event received Lifesaver candy, a keychain, a CPR face shield and certificate of completion.

  Nicole MOORE