June 1: Sidewalk CPR Day (FREE)

Antelope Valley residents can learn to save a life for free during Sidewalk CPR Day on Thursday, June 1. Antelope Valley Medical Center (AVMC) in partnership with American Medical Response (AMR) will provide “hands-only” CPR training from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Community Resource Center, 44151 15th Street West in Lancaster. AVMC is one of nearly 100 sites throughout Los Angeles County to participate in Sidewalk CPR Day.

Hands-only CPR, also known as compression-only CPR, is different from conventional mouth-to-mouth CPR. Sidewalk CPR is designed to give people basic skills, which if provided immediately after sudden cardiac arrest, can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival until emergency responders arrive. Frequent chest compressions move oxygenated blood through the body, keeping the brain and other vital organs alive until the heart can be restarted.

“This training empowers ordinary citizens to provide life-saving assistance in the first few critical moments following a cardiac arrest,” said Laurie Ramirez,RN, MSN, manager of AVMC’s cath lab in the Institute for Heart & Vascular Care. “Since it can take several minutes for emergency responders to arrive at the scene following a 9-1-1 call, a bystander’s quick action can mean the difference between life and death.”

During Sidewalk CPR Day, participants will receive information about the signs of sudden cardiac arrest and instruction on how to perform effective chest compressions. Hands-only CPR training takes just 10 minutes. For more information, visit the AVMC Facebook page at facebook.com/antelopevalleyhospital.