Woodacre, CA – Like a breath of life-saving fresh air, the Marin County Emergency Medical Services Agency is offering its sixth annual “Don’t Miss a Beat: Hands-Only CPR” event on Saturday, June 6, at venues throughout Marin County.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the public can learn how to perform hands-only CPR and assist a person who has experienced a sudden cardiac arrest. In just five minutes, anyone age 8 or older can learn a skill they hope to never use: cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR.
Every year in Marin, more than 200 people suffer cardiac arrest outside of a hospital. Battalion Chief Mike Giannini, the fire emergency medical officer for the Marin County Fire Department, said a cardiac arrest patient is three times more likely to survive if a bystander starts hands-only CPR in the minutes before medical professionals arrive. “It is a simple and effective way to save a life and does not require mouth to mouth breathing” he said.
The non-certified trainings will take place in 18 locations around Marin. Local doctors, nurses, paramedics, emergency medical technicians and firefighters will teach hands-only CPR and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) that help keep hearts beating.
Last year 2,319 people were trained at the Marin locations in just four hours, and this year the goal is to train more than 2,500 people. Participants are eligible for raffle prizes from community partners who support the cause.
More information can be found at www.MarinEMS.org and www.handsonlycpr.org.
Learn to save a life at the following locations:
Vista Point – Golden Gate Bridge Tiburon Ferry Plaza
Strawberry Village Shopping Center Mill Valley Depot Plaza
Throckmorton Fire Station Corte Madera Town Center
Marin Country Mart (Larkspur Landing) Mi Pueblo Foods (San Rafael)
Northgate Mall (San Rafael) Toby’s Feed Barn (Pt. Reyes Station)
Woodacre Market Vintage Oaks Shopping Center (Novato)
Tomales Bakery Marin French Cheese Factory (Hicks Valley)
Woodland’s Market (Tiburon) Sausalito Ferry Terminal
Bayside Café (Sausalito) Muir Woods National Monument