The Huntley Fire Department organized a hands-only CPR event and provided essential instruction on using the AED for the Sun City Woodchucks. This demonstration was a significant opportunity for everyone to practice life-saving techniques on an adult mannequin. Lt. Kelly Gitzke, Director of Mobile Integrated Health, Huntley Fire Protection District, provided this training.
Lt. Kelly Gitzke receives a Woodchuck thank you for her presentation to the club. (Photo by Christine Such/My Sun Day News)
Steve Klein, a Woodchuck Charter Club member, said, “Lt. Kelly does a fantastic job showing the process of saving a person’s life. She then explains it in a way that’s easy to follow and gives hands-on training that takes attendees from I can’t do that to yes, I can do this. We all know that when a medical emergency happens, seconds count. I’m very grateful we have a professional like Lt. Kelly that we can count on. I look forward to doing this refresher class every year.”
The training takes approximately 45 minutes.
Gitzke said, “We can host this in conjunction with a meeting for your group at your location of choice. There is no certification with this demonstration.”
Woodchuck Vice President Mike Shortridge said, “We are so grateful for the training she provides us. We have the training twice a year, and it fills up. I’ve attended the sessions each time, and I have learned something each time. I was so grateful to have Lt Kelly available to provide us with these skills. She is so open and friendly, and I am so inspired by what she does.”
Gitzke said, “We have conducted many hands-on CPR events throughout the Del Webb Community. The Huntley Fire Protection District hopes to get more people to learn how to perform compression-only CPR and how to use an AED. For every cardiac arrest SAVE we had last year, bystander CPR was done and successful. We want everyone in the community to contact 911 immediately and get an AED if available. They also need to know how to push hard and fast and practice with a mannequin. It is not easy, but with practice, it can be done. Lives are saved in the Huntley community due to bystander CPR.”
A certification CPR/AED class can be arranged for any group. This is a certification class through the American Heart Association. This class covers adult, child, and infant CPR and AED use, including choking. It is three hours long. The class can accommodate 15 people at once. Cost is $35/person. It is held at the Huntley Fire Station at 11118 Main St., Huntley, IL. To sign up for an entire CPR class with certification, visit the Huntley Fire Protection District webpage at www.huntleyfpd.org.
1 Comment
She does a great informative presentation!!
Easy to learn and understand! Very knowledgeable and educated to teaching with a sense of ease and confidence.
Wonderful learning experience!