Hospitality workers learn life-saving skills during Summer Safe Pensacola Series

Hospitality workers learned how to handle medical emergencies as thousands of visitors prepare to visit Pensacola Beach over the next several months.

Ascension Sacred Heart and Visit Pensacola teamed up for the Summer Safe Pensacola series to train hospitality workers on emergency response.

“This is a great way for hospitality workers to feel a little more connected and to know that they have some of the life saving tips if something goes wrong,” said Nicole Stacey, vice president of destination development at Visit Pensacola.

Training covers CPR, bleeding control and water safety

Thirty-one hospitality workers participated in the first session. Staff with Ascension Sacred Heart and Escambia County EMS guided them through sessions on controlling severe bleeding, hands-only CPR and how to use an AED.

The training also covered water safety and how to help people with special needs.

“A big part of my job is being outside on the pool deck making sure our guests have a good experience out there so water safety is extremely important especially with small children and families,” said Cassidy Mazzone, guest experience supervisor at Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites.

Gigi Cassedy, general manager at TownePlace Suites by Marriott Pensacola, said she had to give a guest CPR when she worked in Tallahassee but was not certified at the time. She said she feels more confident after going through the training.

“I know how to properly do it. It was always nice to have that angel on the phone, that 911 operator that really encouraged me and told me to keep going and not to give up so yes I can use that going forward,” Cassedy said.

Participants who went through the course received certificates of completion. Many plan to pass along the skills they learned and encourage their co-workers to take the training.

“The more people that are prepared to handle a life changing situation and step in the midst of a crisis the better,” Mazzone said.

Will Condon, president and CEO of Ascension Sacred Heart, said hospitality workers will be the first line of defense if an emergency happens.

“If something heaven forbid happens, they’re going to be the first line of defense, they’re going to be the first people getting to those people, so we want to make sure they have all the tools to stabilize that patient before first responders arrive,” Condon said.

The series will continue with another event at the Holiday Inn Resort on Aug. 5 before finishing on Sept. 9 at the Perdido Key Visitors Information Center.