BAFD adds new dates for free community hands-only CPR classes

The Broken Arrow Fire Department (BAFD) began offering monthly CPR training classes free for members of the community in August 2018.

The one-hour classes train citizens in Hands-Only CPR, choking assistance and familiarize them with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) as part of the American Heart Association’s Friends and Family CPR course. This course is intended for people who want to learn CPR but do not need a CPR course completion card to meet a job requirement.

“We started these classes for community groups, families, babysitters and anyone else interested in learning how to save a life,” said BAFD Chief Jeremy Moore. “With the launch of the PulsePoint app last year, the Broken Arrow Fire Department has been encouraging everyone to learn CPR so we can have citizen life savers available whenever they’re needed.”

Upcoming classes are scheduled for Dec. 4, 2018; Jan. 8 and Feb. 12, 2019. Each class is limited to 20 people and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Classes will be held at 6 p.m. at the Broken Arrow Police and Fire Training Center, 4205 E Omaha St. in northeast Broken Arrow.

For more information, or to register for a class, visit BrokenArrowOK.gov/CommunityCPR.

“BAFD also encourages local business owners or managers or civic organizations to reach out to us if you’re interested in training some of your membership in Hands-Only CPR,” Moore said. “Nationwide, only 46 percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims receive bystander CPR. We’d like to make sure that number is much lower in Broken Arrow.”