The club that has perhaps saved the most lives at Case Western Reserve University is here to help you save some yourself. For the rest of this month and March, CWRU Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is offering a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course to students for the low cost of $15.

These three-hour sessions are taught by CPR certified CWRU EMS emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Participants will learn basic life support (BLS) skills, including proper operation of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and how to perform effective CPR.

“CPR/AED operations can be instrumental in saving a life, especially when medical attention isn’t immediately available,” said Emma Heironimus, the CWRU EMS External Operations Director. “Incidents may occur in any person of any age group at any time, so it is important to be prepared.”

Given the fact that there are over 500,000 cardiac arrests happening each year, CPR training could mean the difference between life and death. There are also differences in knowing when and how to treat children and adults, and participants will learn how to effectively approach both populations during this course. While the course is designed to help a bystander deliver care when it is needed the most, it is likely that these skills will weaken if not practiced regularly. This course, then, could be the answer even if you already know CPR, if only to renew your skills.

Upon completion of the course, participants will receive their CPR/AED certification, which lasts up to three years. In order to renew certification, one must take a BLS CPR course, such as the one offered by CWRU EMS. For more information on the dates and times of these classes, email cwruems-exops@case.edu. To learn more about CWRU EMS, please visit https://case.edu/ems/.