Maitland City Talk

On Oct. 15, more than 75 people learned to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and AED (automated external defibrillator) in Maitland. Hands-on training for CPR and AED provide students with the tools necessary to respond to heart-related medical emergencies.

The Maitland Fire/Rescue Department conducted a free class as part of a new initiative to train as many people in the community in CPR and AED use as possible in the next five years. The group assembled in the City Council Chambers to learn and practice CPR and Choking Rescue for adults, infants and children. Under the guidance of firefighter/paramedics, the students pressed on the plastic chests of mannequins to the rhythm of the disco music “Staying Alive.” For many it was a new experience, for others it was a refresher.

Training enough people in CPR to ensure that the lifesaving procedure will be provided for witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases in a community requires reaching a very significant portion of the population. The Maitland Fire Department will be offering the classes at least twice per year in the hopes of reaching as many Maitland residents and visitors as possible.

An automated external defibrillator, or AED, is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias in a patient and is able to treat people with defibrillation, the application of electrical therapy that stops the arrhythmia, allowing the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm. With simple audio and visual commands, AEDs are designed to be used by anyone. While training is not required, familiarity with an AED can provide the confidence needed to respond accordingly in a medical emergency.

The Maitland Fire Rescue Department considers the trained community to be a piece of the puzzle in our life saving efforts and welcomes the newest members to our “team”!

-Kimberly Neisler, Fire Chief

Maitland Fire/Rescue Department