Wake Forest Fire Department offering monthly CPR classes for Wake Forest residents

The Wake Forest Fire Department (WFFD) now offers monthly American Heart Association CPR Certification classes for Wake Forest residents at the Northern Wake Senior Center, 235 E. Holding Ave. Classes begin at 9 a.m. and are scheduled on the following Saturdays through December: May 24, June 7, July 26, August 16, September 27, October 18, November 22, and December 20.

Attendees have the option to enroll in a four-hour or seven-hour class. In the four-hour session (9 a.m.-1 p.m.), participants learn CPR and how to correctly use an automated external defibrillator, or AED, a medical device that can help restore a normal heartbeat in certain situations. In the seven-hour class (9 a.m.-4 p.m.), participants learn CPR, how to use an AED, and basic first aid. Students who complete either session earn American Heart Association CPR Certification.

The cost for either class is $35 per person and preregistration is required at www.wakeforestnc.gov/fire/cpr-classes. Please note: Only community members with a Wake Forest address are eligible to enroll in these classes.

CPR, or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, is a crucial emergency lifesaving procedure performed when someone’s heart stops beating. According to the American Heart Association, over 350,000 people die of sudden cardiac arrest outside of the hospital every year in the US. Fortunately, immediate CPR can triple the chances for survival. Knowing CPR means you can help a loved one right away – even before emergency services can arrive.

For more information on WFFD’s CPR classes, email Lt. Anthony Lamberti at alamberti@wakeforestnc.gov.