Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in America, with the vast majority — more than 350,000 each year — occurring outside of healthcare settings. According to the American Heart Association, immediate, effective CPR can double or even triple the chances of survival. With its annual Free CPR Week — now in its 10th year — Penn Medicine Princeton Health is helping members of the community learn these potentially lifesaving fundamentals. “Early intervention can literally make the difference between life and death,” said Debbie Millar, director of Community Wellness.
Free CPR Week — which actually has spanned two weeks in recent years — features Family & Friends CPR, a course that covers both CPR and how to assist someone who is choking. There are two separate curricula: one to provide care for children and adults and a second for infants up to one year old. This year, instructors from Community Wellness will teach 35 classes that are open to the public between April 1 and April 13 at Princeton Health locations as well as several community sites, including churches, senior centers, and libraries throughout Mercer and Middlesex counties. Instructors will also provide private classes at local companies and organizations. Princeton Health is an AHA-recognized training center.
Last year alone, Princeton Health trained 1,555 people during its Free CPR Week, Millar said, and the goal is to serve even more this year. To learn more, visit PrincetonHCS.org/Calendar and search keywords Free CPR Week to find available classes in April.