The McLean Volunteer Fire Department will offer hands-on CPR training sessions on Feb. 15 at 7 and 7:30 p.m. at its fire station, located at 1455 Laughlin Ave. in McLean.
These 30-minute sessions are not CPR-certification courses, but are designed to teach more bystanders how to help until the ambulance arrives.
Hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an easy, effective way for bystanders, especially if they act immediately, to double or triple the chance of survival for someone undergoing cardiac arrest, advocates said.
Bystanders should call 911 first, but if they know how to push hard and fast in the center of the chest with minimal interruptions, and operate an automated external defibrillator, they can give the victim a greater chance for survival.
Each session is limited to 20 people; teenagers are welcome but must be accompanied by a parent.
For information and to register, see the Website at mcleanvfd.org/cpr or e-mail outreach@mcleanvfd.org.
Also, if there are sufficient people at residents’ places of work, houses of worship or community clubs who want to learn hands-only CPR, station leaders would be happy to arrange a visit, they said.
