"Hands Only" CPR Training in Division VI

Division VI and the Los Angeles County Bomberos Association have come together to provide "Hands Only" CPR training to residents of our local communities. After the success of "Sidewalk CPR" and "Family and Friends CPR," Division VI has added "Hands Only" CPR as part of our Community Outreach Programs in Battalion 13 and Battalion 20. As of Mid-July members of the Bomberos Association have taught classes to the residents of the cities of Cudahy,Maywood and Lynwood. These classes were taught in both English and Spanish by Fire Fighter Specialist Ben Hernandez of Fire Station 170-A and Fire Fighter Paramedic Francisco Anguiano of Fire Station 39-C.

During the CPR class in the City of Cudahy, a local resident shared a personal story. Two weeks prior to the training, her aunt had suffered a heart attack and went into cardiac arrest, and none of the bystanders knew what to do. "They just kept tugging at her and tried to wake her," the resident stated. Her aunt survived but did not fully recover; she was saddened at the thought that if she would have known how to do "Hands Only" CPR her aunt would have had a better chance of a full recovery.

The next classes will be held in selected cities and community centers in unincorporated areas within Division VI to celebrate "National Night Out" on August 7.

Hands Only CPR: "Hands can do incredible things but nothing compares to using them to help save a life."