San Rafael, CA – In the heat of the moment, would you be able to keep your wits and help save a person who was in cardiac arrest or bleeding from a wound? You might have doubts, but you can increase your chances of becoming a lifesaver on Saturday, June 10, by spending just 5 minutes at Marin County’s annual “Don’t Miss a Beat” event.
Trainers help teach people how to do hands-only CPR at a past 'Don't Miss a Beat' event.The Marin County Emergency Medical Services Agency (Marin EMS), the Marin County Fire Department and Marin County Health and Human Services are combining talents with other Marin agencies for the eighth annual training to teach hands-only CPR and “stop the bleed” techniques to anybody 8 years old and up. Visitors can swing by any of 19 venues all over the county between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency first aid at no cost.
About 1,900 people participated in Marin last year, a year when 46 percent of cardiac arrest patients received assistance from a bystander in the minutes before a professional first responder arrived.
“If everyone 8 and older spent the five minutes to learn how to save a life this way, Marin would be an even safer place to live,” said registered nurse Karrie Groves, a program coordinator for Marin EMS. “It’s proven that bystander CPR can double or triple an ailing person’s chance of survival. If you add in these ‘stop the bleed’ skills, that boosts those odds even more. A bleeding person can die from blood loss within five minutes.”
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. Participants in the non-certified training are eligible for raffle prizes from community partners who support the cause.
San Francisco Giants game tickets, Amazon gift cards, The Bar Method, SoulCycle, Orange Theory Fitness, Mike’s Bikes, and Viansa winery are just a few of the raffle prizes and sponsors for “Don’t Miss a Beat.” The Marin County Medical Reserve Corps Foundation also provides invaluable support along with a dedicated team of volunteers.
More information can be found at ems.marinhhs.org or the American Heart Association’s hands-only CPR video.
Learn to save a life at the following locations June 10:
- Bon Air Shopping Center (Greenbrae)
- Corte Madera Town Center
- The Depot (Mill Valley)
- Fairfax Festival
- Marin Country Mart (Larkspur Landing)
- Marin French Cheese Factory (Hicks Valley)
- Mi Pueblo Foods (San Rafael)
- Muir Beach parking lot
- Novato Festival of Art, Wine & Music, Grant Avenue
- Strawberry Village Shopping Center
- Sausalito Ferry Terminal
- Target (Marin City)
- Throckmorton Fire Station
- Tiburon Ferry Terminal
- Toby’s Feed Barn (Pt. Reyes Station)
- Tomales Bakery
- Vintage Oaks Shopping Center (Novato)
- Woodacre Market
- Woodlands Market (Tiburon)