Lifeguard Ambulance Service to Hold Blood Drive and Teach Hands-Only CPR to Community

February is National Heart Month, so Lifeguard Ambulance Service of Santa Rosa County is hosting a hands-only CPR class on Saturday, February 5.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of disability. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coronary heart disease is the most common form of heart disease and often can lead to heart attacks.

February is National Heart Month, so Lifeguard Ambulance Service of Santa Rosa County is hosting a hands-only CPR class on Saturday, February 5. Area residents may sign up for one of four free hands-only CPR class times – 12, 1, 2 or 3 p.m. Lifeguard’s certified instructors will teach this life-saving skill.

Dwayne Tullos, Regional Director for Lifeguard’s parent company Global Medical Response, said performing CPR immediately may double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.

“We are excited to offer free hands-only CPR to area residents,” Tullos said. “Studies show that about 70 percent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in homes, and survival depends on immediately receiving CPR from someone nearby.”

In conjunction with the CPR classes, Lifeguard is hosting a blood drive with OneBlood. There is a severe blood shortage across the country, and donors are needed now.

“We encourage everyone to come out on Saturday, February 5 and help save lives – by learning CPR and by donating blood,” Tullos said. “The CPR classes will be held outdoors and everyone will be socially distanced. Giving blood is very safe. All employees of Lifeguard and One Blood are masked and gloved, and we’re taking extra precautions to ensure our location is sanitized.”

To register for the hands-only CPR class, please register here: : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lifeguard-ambulance-community-cpr-day-and-blood-drive-tickets-247391794517

To register to donate blood, please visit: https://www.oneblood.org/donate-now using Sponsor Code: 37358. Walk-ins are welcome!