When the Riverhead PTO Executive Council planned “Crazy Sports Night,” a fundraiser that pits faculty and staff of the district’s schools against one another in zany competitions, no one could have predicted the outcome: after a hard-fought Tug-of-War between Phillips Avenue and Aquebogue elementary schools, fourth-grade teacher Lonnie Hughes collapsed in cardiac arrest.
Hughes’ life was saved that night by three fast-acting EMTs who sprung from the audience into action.
Now, the Riverhead Central Faculty Association (RCFA), Riverhead Volunteer Ambulance Corps (RVAC) and RiverheadLocal are sponsoring an event to offer community-wide CPR training, which will be provided by the Suffolk County Fire Rescue.
“Cardiac arrest can be a survivable condition with immediate CPR and rapid defibrillation,” said Gregory Wallace, RCFA Executive Council member and one of the three EMTs who rushed to Hughes’ side. “Unfortunately less than one-third of victims receive bystander CPR and less the 2% receive bystander defibrillation. Awareness programs like these can change those statistics.”
The trainings will take place during the annual Art in Action event at Riverhead High School on May 16 from 7 to 9 p.m. and take approximately 15 minutes. While it doesn’t provide a full CPR certification, the class offers participants the knowledge and skills to initiate CPR in an emergency while waiting for EMTs to arrive. The instruction includes an introduction to the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
“The events on Crazy Sports Night illustrated just how important for people know CPR,” said Denise Civiletti, editor and publisher of Riverehadlocal who covered the eventWe wanted to help get the word out about this valuable training being offered at no cost to residents.”
According to RVAC assistant chief Lisa Corwin, “it’s not as hard as it looks. CPR saves lives. Learn the two steps to Hands Only CPR – call 911 and push hard, push fast in the center of the chest.”
The event is free to the public, no registration is required and all are welcome to participate in the class.
The Riverhead Central Faculty Association is an organization of professionals dedicated to the children of the Riverhead Central School District.
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