Recently, Bob Sjogren wanted his pupils to remember two things from his CPR lecture.
First and foremost, anyone can do CPR on a cardiac arrest victim. Two, even if CPR isn’t flawless, it’s better than no CPR at all.
The message was received, and some students expressed confidence in their ability to manage such a circumstance if necessary.
“I feel confident. It was a very good class. Everyone should take this (class),” said Ann Massey, of the Village of Polo Ridge.
Massey said she had studied and taught CPR during her time as a Kentucky teacher, but she hadn’t done so in the 16 years since she retired.
“I needed this because I’ve been away from it for so long and because of my and my husband’s age and health condition,” Massey added.
Shirley Genova-Johnson, a former teacher who lives in the Village of Polo Ridge, agreed. Her husband used to teach CPR and insisted the family practice it at home, she added. Nonetheless, she appreciated the breather.
“It was absolutely great,” Genova-Johnson said. “Some people think they can’t do it because of their physical condition, but they can do this with modifications.”
After attending, Bob Marx, a resident of Summerfield’s Spruce Creek South neighborhood, stated he felt “newly empowered”
Marx claimed to have received CPR training while working in the hotel sector. However, he did point out that some of the methods had altered. “It’s so important, especially being in the area we live in,” he added.
The Villages Public Safety Department began the renewal of its monthly classes with two sessions.
During the first two hours, Sjogren, a VPS public education technician in charge of the CPR program, taught adults and children how to perform CPR, how to use an automated external defibrillator and how to help to choke victims.
He began by stating that 350,000 people die in America each year from cardiac arrest, which occurs when the heart stops pumping blood. Only 10% of them make it.
“That’s not good,” he told the class. “There can be no warning signs whatsoever. That’s what makes it so scary.”
But, Sjogren added, “The sooner we can intervene when someone’s having cardiac arrest, the better chance they have to survive.”
Sjogren first showed the class a video demonstrating the techniques involved in all of the topics, then asked the students questions to reinforce and accentuate the lessons. The key rule is to push hard and fast until help arrives. “What’s great about this class is anyone can do it,” Sjogren reminded the class. “Anybody can find the center of the chest and push down as hard as they can.”
For people who wish to take a class or who has any questions about the lesson, call 352-205-8280.