Free CPR and AED Training May 21 in Sister Bay

The Door County Fire Chiefs Association’s Defibs4DoorCounty campaign is offering two free CPR and AED training classes May 21 in Sister Bay.

The practical, hands-on training coordinated in partnership with the Compress and Shock Foundation is designed to give the public a basic level of comfort with CPR  and automatic external defibrillator (AED) devices. All classes are open to the public. Classes will be taught by experienced fire and EMS staff.

Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Classes are scheduled for 9 am and  11 am at the Sister Bay Fire Station, 2258 Mill Road, Sister Bay. Each class lasts 60-75  minutes. Register at bit.ly/DoorCountyAED or via www.defibs4doorcounty.org. 

“Putting more AEDs throughout Door County can help save lives, especially if members of the  public are comfortable using the devices to begin a key life-saving step before an ambulance  arrives,” said Chris Hecht, Door County Fire Chiefs Association president. “While not a  replacement for calling 9-1-1, an AED allows patient treatment to start immediately.” 

“Survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is greatly impacted by public involvement,” said Dr.  Jack Perkins, emergency medicine physician and executive director of the Compress and Shock  Foundation. “As a bystander to cardiac arrest, once you call 911, your job is not done. By the  time EMS arrives, it is sometimes too late for the victim to survive neurologically intact and  return to their family unless bystander CPR has been started and coupled with early use of an  AED. We are thrilled to partner with Defibs4DoorCounty as an opportunity to expand our educational outreach to the community and empower the public to save more lives from  cardiac arrest,” Perkins added. 

Earlier this year, the Door County Fire Chiefs Association launched the Defibs4DoorCounty campaign to put more automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in key locations throughout the  county and help save lives. The public can help meet the challenge by making donations at  www.Defibs4DoorCounty.org, in-person at local North Shore Bank and Nicolet National Bank  branches and at any Door County fire station. Checks should be made payable to  Defibs4DoorCounty. 

In addition to the May 21 training classes, AED and CPR training is available for a nominal fee  throughout the year from the Sister Bay & Liberty Grove Fire Department.