GABRIELA HARDAN Participants learn how to perform proper chest compressions on adults and children.

The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District hosted its first public CPR class on May 19.

Held at the clubhouse at the Heron Pond Apartments, the program is known as the American Heart Association’s “Family and Friends” course. The department is offering it for free to participants.

“We wanted to provide that information to the public for quite some time,” Capt. Martin McDowell, head of the district’s EMS Training, said. “This is something quick and easy that can be taught.”

The district plans is to hold the program on the last Friday of each month, with a minimum of four people required. Each class will last one to two hours, depending on the number of participants.

During the first class, the participants learned how to identify if a person is going into cardiac arrest and the steps needed to take to ensure the person’s safety. Using mannequins, they were taught how to perform proper chest compressions on adults and children, along with how to perform ventilations.

GABRIELA HARDAN A dummy used for to practice chest compressions is shown with an automated external defibrillator or AED, at right.

Ivelisse Centeno was one of the participants who took part.

“I think it’s important to take this class because it saves lives,” she said.

“I’m always involved in the things the community does here,” Centeno added. “It’s always good to learn something new, and this I feel is important to learn and it saves lives.”

Using a mannequin, McDowell demonstrated how to use an automated external defibrillator.

“The biggest part that makes the difference are the people who are around someone who succumbs to cardiac arrest and are able to provide care that first five or 10 minutes,” he said.

GABRIELA HARDAN Capt. Martin McDowell, head of the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District’s EMS Training, led the first-ever free CPR for the public on May 19.

Throughout the class, participants were able to ask questions.

District officials noted that the program is not a CPR certification class, however it covers all of the important information. They said knowing CPR is an essential skill that people should acquire.

“I think anybody and everybody can save a life,” McDowell said.

“That early part of survival is somebody there knowing how to do CPR, so the more education I can get out to the public, the more lives can be saved,” he added. “It’s very important that we get that out there.”

For about a year, district officials had been thinking of offering the class in an effort to contribute to public safety. With the start of the new year in January, they decided to put their plan into action.

GABRIELA HARDAN A dummy used for to practice chest compressions is shown with an automated external defibrillator or AED, at right.

According to McDowell, the district hands out the Phoenix Award twice a year. The event is to honor and recognize department employees who have successfully resuscitated a patient in cardiac arrest.

“These people can all attest that if it weren’t for high-quality CPR and early defibrillation, they wouldn’t have been there to present the awards,” he said.

Participants must register in advance to participate.

To register or for more information, contact Janis Williams at 239-303-5300.