In an effort to help residents in lifesaving situations, Harrison’s EMS has launched a free program to train individuals seeking to take courses in medical training.
The program, known as the Harrison Emergency Lifesaving Program, HELP, kicked off at the Jewish Community Center of Harrison, located at 130 Union Ave., on Feb. 28.
“Far too often we hear about a tragedy that could have been prevented,” said Ron Benson, the public information officer for the EMS. “It’s extremely important to protect our young, and we’re attempting to get everyone prepared for emergency situations.”
The program is offered free to all residents of Harrison, and aims to prepare new parents and caretakers for the potential of being faced with a life-threatening emergency situation.
As part of the program, residents are given the opportunity to take courses for a certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, commonly known as CPR. The course, which is not limited to people with medical experience, offers instructional-based classes for adult and child CPR.
CPR is used as a tool to prevent cardiac arrest, which is a leading cause of death nationwide. Each year, as many as 350,000 cardiac arrests occur throughout the nation, according to the Harrison EMS.
While 70 percent of cardiac arrests happen in homes, Benson said the program aims to aid those in early detection to take immediate action before professional help arrives.
At the Tuesday kick-off event, the Harrison EMS certified 24 residents for CPR.
The program is also designed to teach individuals how to properly use a defibrillator, which delivers an electric current, often called a countershock, to the heart for lifesaving purposes.
Benson said the program, which is suitable for individuals as young as age 9, came out of brainstorming ways in which the EMS team could improve the community.
HELP, which is being spearheaded by Vinny Straface, a member of the board of directors that oversees the Harrison EMS, is being planned for a regular basis. The next meeting will occur at the Purchase Community House at 3095 Purchase St. on March 14, as of press time.
Benson, who told the Review that there is no official goal for the amount of people the EMS plans to train, said that around 15 people are expected to be at the next meeting. “We realistically want to train as many people as we possibly can,” he said.
Straface could not be reached for comment, as of press time.
