By FDNY
NEW YORK — Learning CPR just got a little easier.
The FDNY partnered with NYC Service and New York Sports Clubs (NYSC) on Jan. 6 to launch FDNY CPR to Go, a program that offers free CPR classes at gym locations throughout the five boroughs.
“This will make a big difference in New York City’s cardiac survival rates, because bystander CPR can increase a victim’s chance of survival by more than 50 percent,” said Assistant Chief of EMS Field Services John McFarland said during a press conference at the NYSC Wall Street Gym in Manhattan.
Participants in every class learn basic CPR skills from a member of the FDNY Emergency Medical Service. Volunteers for the class follow along using the CPR Anytime Personal Learning Kit, which features an instructional DVD and an inflatable mannequin. All participants are asked to take home the kit and pledge to show five of their family members and friends how to perform CPR.
Membership at NYSC is not required to take part in the FDNY CPR to Go program.
“We urge all New Yorkers to take advantage of this program and help save a life,” said Diahann Billings-Burford, Chief Service Officer for the City of New York.
Vice President of Sales and Marketing for NYSC, Russell Findlay, added, “We are big believers in CPR training. We’ve seen the value of CPR first hand.”
In 2009, the FDNY Mobile CPR Training Unit directly trained more than 7,500 volunteers at EMS stations, schools, places of worship and community centers throughout the five boroughs. Coordinators said they hope to train as many as 12,000 New Yorkers in 2010.
Since the start of the FDNY Mobile CPR Training Unit in April 2005, an estimated 35,000 people have been directly trained to perform CPR and an estimated 55,000 have been trained by those who have completed the free class.
To sign up for a CPR class at an NYSC location, please visit www.nyc.gov/service. For additional information on NYSC, visit www.mysportsclubs.com.
CPR training is free to all volunteers and is available year round at many locations throughout the five boroughs in both English and Spanish. Free CPR classes can be scheduled at other locations by calling the FDNY Mobile CPR Training Unit at 718-281-3888 or 311.