Missouri Medic Wants to Smash World CPR Training Record
Jan. 23--ST. CHARLES COUNTY -- A paramedic with the county ambulance district is hoping that a massive training event will break a world record for the most people taught CPR in a 24-hour period.
Tim Bobbitt, who also is chairman of the non-profit group LifeSaver CPR, is organizing the event, which is free. Training will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Feb. 23 and 24 at Fort Zumwalt East High School, 600 1st Executive Avenue, St. Peters.
Although the event is actually only 18 hours long -- Bobbitt said they couldn't get the school's gym overnight -- they are going to try to break the record for a 24-hour period, which is 20,035. The event happened in Chinese Taipei on Dec. 7, 2012, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
Bobbit said attendees will learn how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, use an Automated External Defibrillator and help a choking victim. Sessions will last approximately 30 minutes.
Statistics show that every two minutes someone goes into cardiac arrest, Bobbitt said, but 70 percent of the public either do not know how to do CPR or they are afraid to perform it when an emergency arises.
Those training in CPR should consider that they likely will perform the lifesaving measure on a family member, since four out of five cardiac arrests happen at home.
Anyone interested in registering for the event can do so soon at www.checkcallcompress.com, but walk-ins are welcome.
For more information, visit LifeSaver CPR's Facebook page, www.facebook.com/checkcallcompress.
Copyright 2013 - St. Louis Post-Dispatch
