Community-wide CPR
Coming Up in Winfield
In conjunction with American Heart Month, a free community-wide
CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) certification event will be hosted by
William Newton Hospital, USD 465, and Winfield Fire/EMS on Friday, February 10
at Baden Square in Winfield. Two sessions will be offered, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00
p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Connecting the recent cardiac arrest suffered by the NFL’s
Damar Hamlin, William Newton Hospital’s Community Education & Professional
Development Coordinator Melanie Burnett, MSN, RN, stresses the importance of
learning CPR, “On January 8, an NFL trainer and first responders performed CPR
on live television. Sudden cardiac arrest can occur at any time, any place, to
anyone. This reminds us why CPR skills are so important for everyone – not just
medical professionals – to know and be proficient at performing. The only way
you can be assured that you CAN do something is to learn it, practice it and be
ready should the situation arise.”
Burnett is co-chair of William Newton Healthcare
Foundation’s Beats Go On community wellness initiative aimed at providing
wellness education and fostering collaborative partnerships throughout our
service area. In her role at William Newton Hospital, she teaches a monthly CPR
class for healthcare providers and the public, which typically costs $30 for
non-hospital employees. However, through this outreach effort, community
partners will be offering CPR certification at no cost.
Though required for many professions such as healthcare,
daycare staff, lifeguards, corrections officers, some construction jobs,
coaches, and many teachers, there are benefits to anyone learning how to use
this life-saving technique. Most cardiac arrests occur outside of a medical
setting and often happen at home. If someone experiences sudden cardiac arrest,
it is essential to start CPR within minutes. Emergency medical staff can be
alerted quickly, but if CPR is not initiated soon, it could lead to brain
injury or death.
William Newton Healthcare Foundation’s Brittney Shaffer says
one of the goals of this event is to make CPR more accessible to all. “If you
need it for your job, you can sign up for free and save money. If you just want
to be a more prepared citizen or family member, we’re making it easy for you.”
Certifications will be held through the American Heart
Association. Each session will be capped at 48 participants, ages 16 and up.
William Newton Hospital, USD 465, and Winfield Fire/EMS are each supplying
instructors and models to meet the larger capacity. To reserve your seat,
register online with William Newton Hospital at www.wnhcares.org/community-cpr.
For more information, contact Burnett at 620-222-6254. To
learn more about the Beats Go On community wellness initiative and other
upcoming events, visit www.wnhcares.org/foundation/2ndcentury/beats.
