Please note a date change to Feb. 27
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States where one in every three deaths results from heart disease and stroke. To help bring awareness to the problem and offer support of life saving practices, Mount Desert Island Hospital and community partners are offering free CPR certification as part of its commemoration of American Heart Month.
The American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR/AED certification course is Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013 from 6 to 9 pm at the Atlantic Oceanside Conference Center in Bar Harbor. Attendance in this course is limited to the first 30 people to register.
The three-hour course will teach students the proper technique for administering CPR and the proper use of an automated external defibrillator. The course is open to anyone over the age of 16 and is ideal for those whose employment requires certification or for anyone who wants to have the skills they need if they are ever called upon to save a life.
The hospital’s education department is offering the American Heart Association certification course to the community with volunteer instructors from Bar Harbor Fire Department, MDI High School, National Park Service, and Mount Desert Elementary School.
Last February, MDI Hospital offered the community CPR class on Valentine’s Day to provide the skills needed ‘to mend a broken heart,’ which was very well received by the community. A scheduling conflict prevented another holiday course offering but MDI Hospital’s Director of Education Jeff Boal, RN, believes anytime is the right time to offer these life saving skills. “Since last February, we have certified more than 60 people in CPR and AED use,” Boal said. “The more folks with these skills there are in the community, the better the chances of having someone around when it really matters”
According to the American Heart Association, immediate, effective CPR can more than double a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.
This course is limited to 30 participants and pre-registration is required. Contact MDI Hospital’s Meredith Donovan at 288-5082 extension 1478 or email Meredith.donovan@mdihospital.org to reserve your space.