Gainesville-based NGHF reports training 950+ in CPR since launching campaign last fall

GAINESVILLE - Since its launching its educational programming last fall, the North Georgia Heart Foundation (NGHF) has hosted more than six CPR training events partnering with local schools and businesses. More than 950 students and community members have received training in hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) use. <br /> <br /> "Vital to our mission's success of eradicating cardiovascular disease is education - education of the community, teachers and most importantly, the next generation," says George Ordway, PhD, PA-C, and NGHF board chair. "One of the main goals of our education program is to enhance awareness of cardiovascular health and disease throughout North Georgia and teach critical life-saving first steps for cardiovascular emergencies such as cardiac arrest or stroke."<br /> <br /> "Approximately, four out of five cardiac arrests happen at home," says Jeffrey Marshall, MD, FACC, FSCAI, founder of NGHF. "Effective bystander CPR provided immediately after cardiac arrest can double or even triple a victim's chance of survival. In order to become an enclave where we see the best survival rates in the country for heart attack, it will take our entire community being trained to react timely and effectively, which is a goal we aim to achieve."<br /> <br /> In addition to CPR and AED training, NGHF has already made plans to lead a series of wellness expos, symposia and lectures for teachers and staff of the Hall County School System hosted at Chestatee High School. <br /> <br /> The first session was on Dec. 22, where more than 75 faculty and staff gathered to hear a presentation about cardiovascular disease risk factors. After the presentation they participated in screenings including blood pressure readings, blood glucose measurements and sleep apnea testing. They were also given information on how to decrease your risk for cardiovascular disease such as stress reduction techniques, yoga and nutrition. The next sessions will offer professional learning opportunities and a fitness expo.<br /> <br /> "By the time you reach adulthood the damage is often done, which is why to truly prevent and eradicate heart disease we have to start by educating our children to lead healthy lifestyles that minimize cardiovascular damage," Ordway said. "By targeting and providing education to the teachers and staff, we can not only help improve their personal cardiovascular health, but we can offer knowledge which they can incorporate into their classroom activities and thus multiply our efforts and impact by sharing information with their students."<br /> <br /> &#8203;NGHF's educational efforts will not be limited to the schools. By collaborating with other locally based healthcare and educational institutions, NGHF will provide training opportunities that will include information about the latest developments in cardiovascular health and disease, nutrition, exercise, risk factors and stress reduction and offer these free learning opportunities to throughout the community. <br /> <br /> &#8203;To schedule a training program for your school, business or civic group visit pulseoftomorrow.org or call 678-928-3328.<br />

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