Heart Association offers free C-P-R training

The American Heart Association is sponsoring the first of several free C-P-R training sessions this Saturday. Instructor Sam Patterson of Des Moines, says C-P-R can be used to keep someone alive who’s choked, or had a heart attack, stroke or other problem until more advanced help arrives. The American Heart Association says about 220-thousand deaths occur each year alone due to sudden cardiac arrest. Patterson uses a video and hands-on instruction with a special manikin to teach the C-P-R course. He says students watch the video and then the instructor follows through with the students to make sure they’re doing things correctly. Patterson says C-P-R is not tough to learn.He says as people do the hands-on skills, they realize it is easy to do. The course teaches how to do C-P-R on adults and children.He says there are more breathing problems with children where in adults it’s a matter of keeping the blood and oxygen circulating until the heart can be shocked back to a normal beat. Patterson teaches emergency medical technicians along with his classes for the public. He says and E-M-T he knows used C-P-R just the other day to revive a patient.He says the patient in the ambulance became unresponsive and the E-M-T performed C-P-R and shocked the patient’s heart into normal rhythm before they got to the hospital. The C-P-R course is being offered free this Saturday in Des Moines and Sioux City and in other parts of the state later this month. Check with your local Heart Association Chapter to find the time for the training in your area.