The Wilton Volunteer Ambulance Corps together with Our Lady of Fatima, will be hosting a free hands-only CPR and AED training for kids and teens on February 7 starting at 6pm at the OLF Parish Center (229 Danbury Road, Wilton).
Hands-Only CPR is CPR without mouth-to-mouth breaths. It is recommended for use by people who see a teen or adult suddenly collapse in an “out-of-hospital” setting (such as at home, at work or in a park).
Most people who experience out-of-hospital-cardiac arrest die because they don't receive immediate CPR from someone on the scene. As a bystander, our children can help change that statistic. The life they save may be our own!
Registration for this event is required in advance. It is important that each student be given adequate time and instruction with an instructor. We need to know in advance as to how many participants to expect, to ensure we have enough manikins and instructors on hand.
Additionally, OLF has a maximum capacity of 135 occupants including OLF and WVAC staff and volunteers, so we need to plan accordingly. You will need to register online here.
This class is for children and teens, grades 5 through 12 or ages 9 to 17 only. Studies have shown that children as young as 9 can learn and retain CPR skills. The earlier kids get their hands on manikins and practice the basics, the more second nature it will become for them should they ever need to refer to these skills in a real situation. Just teaching a child the mechanics of pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest is better than doing nothing at all.
There are no certifications given for Hands Only CPR and this class is being offered 100% free. However, Wilton Volunteer Ambulance Corps, as the name suggests is a volunteer organization, and not a department within the scope of the Town of Wilton, and therefore relies heavily on donations from the community. Our volunteer EMT’s are donating their time, not only for shifts, but for community service events like this one. WVAC is a 501(c)3 organization and your donations are always appreciated but certainly not required as a prerequisite for this class. When you register, you will have the opportunity to make a donation to the Corps.
Please contact Brian McDermott, WVAC Community Relations and Special Events Coordinator at Events@wiltonambulance.org or 203-517-7247 or Mara Fleming, Coordinator of Youth Ministry at OLF at fatimayouthk8@gmail.com.