Town hosts CPR training
The Farragut community had an opportunity to learn CPR and how to use an Automated External Defibrillator during free classes.
Rural Metro, the Knox County emergency responder, and its parent company, AMR, offered the free training on compression-only CPR and AED for adults and children as young as age 6 at Farragut Town Hall Wed-nesday, May 18, and Saturday, May 21, in observation of Nat-ional Emergency Medical Ser-vices Week.
Sixty-two attendees took the training, Colin Cumesty, Rural Metro fire and life safety specialist and Farragut fire inspector, said.
“There has been a cross section of the area who participated,” Cumesty said. “It means we are making it accessible so people can fit it into their schedules.”
The training was open to everyone in Knox County, Larry “L.E.” Wilder, Rural Metro fire and life safety specialist, said.
“This has been an annual community service for several years,” he said. “We go into communities and teach CPR. Everyone gets certified after completion.”
The CPR training many people remember taking has changed. He said it no longer involves the rescue breathing, only compressions to the chest.
“We found the more people do [CPR training], the more likely you can save more lives,” Wilder said.
Linda Pearse said she took the training to become recertified.
“I was certified in CPR years ago, but it lapsed,” Pearse said. “I saw [the announcement about the class] on TV, and it was so convenient, I thought it was something I needed to do.
“You never know when you will encounter a situation where CPR is needed. I want to be able to help out, not just stand there.”
“It was on my to-do list,” Gayle Greene of Farragut said about taking the course. “It’s completely changed since I did CPR 30 years ago. You no longer have to breathe in the person’s mouth. It’s just hands on with compressions. It’s easier to learn.”
Carolyn and John Ruble of Cedar Bluff also took the May 18 training.
“We saw they were going to be doing it at different places,” Carolyn Ruble said. “We’re getting older and we thought [taking the course] was the proper thing to do. We can help each other or someone else.
“Rural Metro did a good job. This is a new style [of CPR], they say.”
“Everyone needs to know how to use it,” Nancy Lefler of Far-ragut said. “You never know when you come across someone who needs CPR.”
Attendees also had an opportunity to learn how to use an AED.
The average cost of the device is about $1,500,” Cumesty said.
While demonstrating the AED for adults and children, he said there are specific AEDs for infants.
The training also was offered at West Town Mall, Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame, Halls-dale Powell Utility District Community Room, Ijams Nature Center, New Harvest Park and Pellissippi State Community College campuses along Hardin Valley Road, Magnolia Avenue and Strawberry Plains Pike.
