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WESTPORT, Conn. More people are receiving CPR and other life-saving training from the Westport Volunteer Emergency Medical Service than ever before, WVEMS announced Tuesday.
From July 1, 2011 to June 30 of this year, 1,576 students received CPR training and 170 people received First Aid training.
This is by far the largest number of students WVEMS has trained in a one year period in these life-saving skills, the announcement said.
WVEMS offers a variety of certified courses, taught by American Heart Association certified instructors. The AHA Heartsaver CPR/AED class teaches adult, child and infant CPR, obstructed airway management and utilization of automated external defibrillators, or AEDs. Upon completing this two to three hour course, students receive certification from the AHA. The class is free for residents and town employees.
The service also offers AHA Healthcare Provider CPR, First Aid, Pediatric First Aid and CPR and the National Safety Council Defensive Driving Program. A fee is charged for all these courses, which are also certified.
Additionally, WVEMS offers a free, non-certified class called Hands-only CPR. This 45 minute introductory class covers choking management and AED training.
All courses are taught at the classroom at Westport Police/EMS headquarters, 50 Jesup Road. The Hands-only CPR course can also be taught on location at businesses and organizations.
For more information about classes and fees, or to sign up, visit WVEMS online or call the course hotline at 203-341-6030.
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