GOSHEN- Orange County’s Office of Emergency Service and Youth Bureau hosted 28 students from throughout the County on Thursday, December 28th for free Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training at the Emergency Services Center.
Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus and Commissioner of Emergency Services Peter J. Cirigliano II visited the class and spoke to the students during the day-long training.
“I want to thank the students for taking this class, which I’m sure will benefit them greatly,” Neuhaus said. “We urge all people in Orange County to become CPR trained, as receiving CPR can vastly improve a person’s chances of survival should they have a cardiac event. In many cases, a rapid medical response can mean the difference between life and death.”
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a life-saving procedure that is considered critical first aid for people who are having cardiac arrest or shortness of breath. A cardiac arrest can cause brain damage within minutes. Every year, more than 350,000 instances of cardiac arrest occur outside U.S. hospitals, according to the American Heart Association. These medical emergencies can occur anywhere from private homes and businesses to public institutions, and even while commuting via car, bus, or train. According to the latest statistics released by the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, only 10 percent of these people survive. The event host also made reference to the importance of getting valid CPR certifications to be ready for unexpected emergencies.
The instructors also taught students how to recognize the onset of stroke, control bleeding, administer naloxone (when an opioid overdose is suspected), and epinephrine for an individual suffering an extreme allergic reaction. This training was co-hosted in partnership between Orange County Emergency Services and the Orange County Youth Bureau.
