Remote CPR training available Aug. 22

BY Amanda Martilla

A three-hour Zoom training course on Aug. 22 will help prepare Canyon Lakers for their in-person skills test in the Canyon Lake Town Center and earning a CPR/AED Certificate.

The new online class, Remote Emergency AED CPR Training (REACT), is being offered via Zoom nationwide to train as many people as possible to respond in the event of an emergency.

In addition to participating in the virtual information training next Saturday, Canyon Lake trainees can then earn their official CPR/AED Certificate by completing an in-person skills test at the CPR Training Centers office in the Town Center.

Those receiving the training and certificate can help save lives long before emergency personnel can arrive.

“It takes approximately 15 minutes for EMTs to respond to a heart-related illness call,” CPR trainer Roger Hillard said. “When you call 911, it takes two minutes just for responders to get the call. Time is of the essence when it comes to cardiac emergencies.”

Training equipment used during in-person training awaits class participants at the CPR training offices in the Canyon Lake Town Center. Photo provided by Roger Hillar

The nationwide information training series is open to people of all ages. In approximately three hours, viewers will learn about performing CPR, using an AED and administering first aid. How to control bleeding, how to use a splint and how to respond to environmental hazards are just a few of the topics that will be covered as part of the first aid training.

The registration fee of $30 allows the whole family to view the training on Zoom. Those participating in the training need to register by Aug. 20 at heartsafeservices.com/remote-emergency-training to make a reservation for the Aug. 22 event. This training alone does not result in CPR certification, but combined with passing an in-person skills test, a certificate is awarded.

“Despite COVID-19, we can give the same training via Zoom as the students would receive if they were in a classroom,” Roger said. “Because this is a local promotion, if the person who registered wishes to receive a certificate, that person can come to my training center and perform the skills portion to complete the certificate training.”

The fee for the one-hour in-person certificate training is $20 per person. The earned CPR/AED certificate will then be valid for two years. The training takes place at the CPR Training Centers office in the Town Center at 31534 Railroad Canyon Rd., Suite K. No more than four people will be allowed to complete their skills test at the same time in order to respect social distancing guidelines, Roger said.

The short-term goal of this service is to offer everybody the opportunity to develop a proficiency in using CPR, AED and first aid in order to potentially save lives, Roger said.

The long-term goal is to set up Heart Safe Neighborhoods throughout Canyon Lake by using the Good Sam phone app, which alerts trained citizens of nearby emergencies.

“We work with POAs and HOAs to set up training for these life-saving skills in their communities as well as provide AED units for the common person to be trained on,” Roger said. “They can then use these devices in the event of a heart-related emergency, using the life-saving skills they learned until the EMTs arrive.”