On Feb. 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., residents had a chance to learn Hands Only CPR for free at the Hollister Fire Department Station 1. The event was sponsored by the Hollister Fire Department, American Medical Response, Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital, the American Red Cross and San Benito County.
The one-day activity was meant to boost the number of local residents who are trained in Hands Only CPR so that they can respond quickly in an emergency.
In August, the groups offered training at the local farmers market. The “Hands Only CPR” technique is touted by the American Heart Association as the best way to increase survival rates for teens and adults suffering a cardiac arrest until emergency services arrive on the scene.
A video at the American Heart Association website shows viewers how to do the compressions and explains that they need to be done at a speed of 100 compressions per minute, or as fast as the beat to the song “Staying Alive.”
Visit www.heart.org to watch the American Heart Association video or call Morrow at 636-4066 for more information on CPR training.
