HAFTR brings CPR home

About 310,000 Americans die every year from cardiac arrest at home or in a public place. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is one of a series of steps recommended by the American Heart Association in the “chain of survival” that when followed give a victim the greatest chance of surviving a sudden cardiac arrest.

The Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway (HAFTR) is taking their own steps to heighten awareness of this necessary procedure and educate the community to help save lives.

Starting on Sunday, April 22, HAFTR will hold a series of CPR classes open to the community in the multipurpose room of their early childhood center. Other classes will be held on April 24th, April 26th, April 29th, May 22nd and a course in Spanish on April 30th.

Up to 18 students will be permitted in each class and students have to be 18 years old to be eligible for certification, but under age 18 can take the course that is not for certification, explained Leslie Gang, director of admissions and communication at HAFTR. Some of the classes are only for basic knowledge of CPR and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs); those cost $25. Other classes are for certification—the certification is through the American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI) and those cost $60.

“I’m hoping that people realize how important this is and we are sold out,” said Melisa Lazarus, a HAFTR parent and the catalyst behind these classes.

“It was her idea,” pointed out Gang. “She brought it to me.”

“My children are everything for me,” said Lazarus. “My son had a bad accident a few years ago and it could have been prevented, but not with CPR. As a mom, I’m trying to protect my children and other children. I heard so many stories of children who choke or drown and it could have been prevented with CPR. It was too late, too far.”

“The purpose is to teach, not raise money,” she explained. “A child can choke on a grape and you can’t save a life. Maybe we can prevent something bad before it happens.”