150 Residents to Take Red Cross Training 'to Heart'

150 Residents to Take Red Cross
Training 'to Heart'

News Release: March 6, 2003
Contact: Janice Osborne, Manager-Media & Community Affairs (610) 865-4400, ext. 262

On Saturday, March 8, 150 people of all ages in and around this area will forego normal weekend activities like “sleeping in,” running to the grocery store or catching up housework. What will they do instead? They will learn how to save the life of a sudden cardiac arrest victim.

Thanks to the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley and Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., 150 individuals will have an opportunity to take a free five-hour adult cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) training class. Participants will learn how to provide care for breathing emergencies such as choking, perform CPR for victims of sudden cardiac arrest, and use an AED.

“The response to this year’s event has been overwhelming,” said Steve Vetrano, senior director of programs and general services for the local Red Cross. “We have folks registered from Kunkletown to Chalfont and everywhere in between. Unfortunately, we had to limit the class size to 150 people in order to provide quality training for each person, keep it manageable for our instructors and stay within our space constraints.”

The hands-on program will be taught by certified Red Cross instructors and uses manikins, first-aid materials and equipment. The class is being held in the Fellowship Hall at First Presbyterian Church, Allentown, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. No walk-ins will be admitted.

Red Cross encourages residents who were unable to register for Saturday’s event to call the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley at (610) 865-4400 and ask for a course schedule, or visit www.redcrosslv.org, and click on Health and Safety for a complete list of classes and fees.

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 660,000 residents in Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross provided health and safety education training and emergency relief services to more than 20,000 Greater Lehigh Valley residents. For more information about your local Red Cross, call (610) 865-4400 or visit www.redcrosslv.org.