GAINESVILLE - Hall County Fire Services to begin offering free monthly CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) classes to citizens begining Monday evening.
"It is our duty as men and women of Hall County Fire Services to protect and serve the citizens of Hall County," said Hall County Fire Chief Jeff Hood. "We want to go above and beyond responding to citizens in their time of need by teaching them the skills they need to sustain life until our arrival."
70 percent of Americans say they feel helpless to act during a cardiac emergency because they either do not know how to administer CPR or their training has significantly lapsed according to the American Heart Association.
Hood said the class will teach the American Heart Association's hands-only CPR technique that does not involve mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
"Experts tell us that hands-only CPR encourages bystanders to immediately assist someone experiencing a cardiac arrest, increasing their chances of survival," said Hood.
Classes will be held at 6 p.m. on the third Monday of every month at the Hall County Emergency Services Complex, located at 470 Crescent Drive in Gainesville. The first class is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 16.
To sign up, call 770-531-6838.
