Press Releases: Georgia
February 10, 2006
Kaiser Permanente and The American Red Cross Announce Annual CPR Saturday
Once-a-year free opportunity to learn lifesaving skills to be held on March 25
ATLANTA – The average person is capable of saving the
life of someone who is having a heart attack if they know cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR), a skill the American Red Cross can teach
in four hours. Cardiac arrest is the country's leading cause
of death, yet only one person in four is trained to give CPR
care to a family member, friend, or co-worker if they are having
a heart attack.
Kaiser Permanente and Atlanta's Red Cross are urging local residents to learn this and other life-saving skills for free at the 23rd annual Red Cross CPR Saturday, being held March 25 at seven metro area locations. A $45 value, the class will teach participants how to identify an emergency, the steps to responding, and hands-on demonstration and practice of the abdominal thrust technique for choking, rescue breathing and CPR.
"If you're in an emergency situation where you need to provide care, it will most likely involve someone you know," said Lynne Housely, Red Cross program specialist and event director. "Every second will count while you're waiting for emergency responders to arrive, so knowing what to do before they get there could save the life of someone you care about."
Instruction will be provided for Adult CPR. With a passing grade, participants will receive Red Cross certification, which is good for one year. The first class at each site will start at 9 a.m. with new classes beginning approximately every half-hour until the last session at 2 p.m. The training is usually suitable for ages 12 and up. Children must be strong enough to successfully perform chest compressions. Childcare will not be provided and small children should not attend.
Pre-registration is required. There are three ways to register: Visit the American Red Cross online at www.redcrossclass.org; Call 404-575-3094; or stop by your nearest Red Cross District Office between 8:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Walk-ins on the day of the event will be accepted as space allows.
According to Housely, CPR Saturday is one of the organization's most important activities of the year and serves to say thanks to the community for its year-round support.
"Over the past decade, Kaiser Permanente of Georgia has been proud to be the sponsor of this important event," Evonne Yancey, director of government and community affairs said. "We're committed to creating a safer, healthier community."
LOCATIONS
COBB COUNTY- KENNESAW
Kaiser Permanente, TownPark Medical Center
750 TownPark Lane
Kennesaw, GA 30144
DEKALB COUNTY- TUCKER
Kaiser Permanente, Crescent Medical Center
200 Crescent Centre Parkway
Tucker, GA 30084
FULTON COUNTY- ATLANTA
Kaiser Permanente, Glenlake Medical Center
20 Glenlake Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30328
FULTON COUNTY- ALPHARETTA
Kaiser Permanente, Alpharetta Medical Center
3550 Preston Ridge Road
Alpharetta, GA 30005
FULTON COUNTY- ATLANTA
Oglethorpe Elementary School
601 Beckwith Street
Atlanta, GA 30310
GWINNETT COUNTY- SUWANNEE
Collins Hill High School
50 Taylor Road
Suwannee, GA 30024
HENRY COUNTY- MCDONOUGH
Kaiser Permanente, Henry Towne Centre Medical Center
1125 Towne Centre Village Drive
McDonough, GA 30253
Kaiser Permanente is the state of Georgia's largest nonprofit health plan, serving the health care needs of Atlanta metro area residents for 22 years. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia, Inc. currently provides comprehensive health care services to approximately 275,000 members through 15 medical facilities in a 28-county service, and a network of affiliated hospitals and physicians. The Health Plan provided more than $5 million in community benefit programs and services.