Spanish Fork parents learn about CPR, choking
Ashley Ellis, an EMT for Spanish Fork, demonstrates technique for child CPR to the Garcia family during a class about CPR/choking for parents in Spanish Fork on Thursday, October 4, 2012. JIM MCAULEY/Daily Herald
Tyler Jacobson tries CPR on a model infant as Whitney Jacobson and Haley Hales look on during a class about CPR/choking for parents in Spanish Fork on Thursday, October 4, 2012. JIM MCAULEY/Daily Herald
Haley Hales tries CPR on a model person during a class about CPR/choking for parents in Spanish Fork on Thursday, October 4, 2012. JIM MCAULEY/Daily Herald
Karen and Jordan Hales, center and right, attempt infant CPR during a class about CPR/choking for parents in Spanish Fork on Thursday, October 4, 2012. JIM MCAULEY/Daily Herald
For the first time, the Spanish Fork Ambulance Association had two free classes this week to teach parents about child CPR and choking rescue. Although not official certification courses, the idea behind these classes is to help empower families to be better prepared in an emergency.
Thrilled by the turnout, Spanish Fork Ambulance Association secretary Jennifer Lewis said she hopes to make this a semiannual tradition. Although the association members frequently volunteer their services to teach CPR courses elsewhere — schools, church groups, scouting events, etc — this is the first time they have hosted a class specifically geared for parents.
“Our responsibility is not just to go help those in crisis, but to also help with preventative care and education,” Lewis said. “We want to help parents better understand how to take care of their kids in an emergency. We love to show up on the scene and find people doing something proactive. This usually leads to a better outcome.”
And according to Lewis, class participants were eager to learn the steps of CPR.
“When you start to talk about responsibilities in an emergency, people tend to be a little intimidated, but as you go through it, people realize ‘hey this isn’t so hard,’ ” Lewis said. “It empowers them so they don’t feel afraid.”
Classes were taught both Tuesday and Thursday evenings this past week. Participants had to register. Both classes were taught by certified EMTs from the Spanish Fork Ambulance Association, including Tammy Harding, Kim Armstrong, Jennifer Lewis, Julie Pullman, Taylor Banks and Ashley Ellis. The entire ambulance association is made up of volunteers.
According to Don Thomas, captain of the department, instructors were there to answer questions as they came up, make sure class members had a clear understanding of what to do and to provide hands-on training. Class members took turns practicing the steps of CPR on dummies.
“If you can do CPR for roughly two minutes, an officer can get there with equipment until an ambulance arrives,” Thomas said.
He explained that officers carry automatic defibrillators in their emergency vehicles.
“The benefit of knowing CPR is that you have more people aware of the signs and symptoms, so you can catch things happening,” Thomas said. “Someone can begin CPR, which delays the dying process, until you can get the defibrillator there.”
Those interested in a future course can keep checking the Spanish Fork City website for information. The association plans to hold another series of classes in the spring.
