BRIGHTON, NY (WROC) — In an effort to save more lives in the event of cardiac arrest, UR Medicine and the American Heart Association are introducing an on-the-go CPR training station.
This mobile CPR station is the first in New York State and the second in the United States.
“It’s not enough just where they get medical care and the clinics. I think in our communities we need to go out and help make it easier for all of our friends, family and neighbors to learn CPR,” said Dr. Spencer Rocero, Interim Director of Cardiac Care at UR Medicine.
Officials say demand for CPR training contributed to the development of the machine after Buffalo Bills safety Dumar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest in January.
“In many cases, help is given to people who have been to the emergency department for cardiac arrest before paramedics arrive. It may be family, friends, or even bystanders who provided CPR in some cases that made the world’s difference in terms of their survival,” said Cathy Parinello, COO of Strong Memorial Hospital.
This machine includes a touch screen tutorial followed by a 30 second test. Within minutes, the person using it is ready for CPR.
The goal, officials said, is to further improve bystander response rates while reaching out to local residents in a convenient space.
“Having more people in the community who could initiate compressions, call 911, or hook up a defibrillator until an ambulance arrives would make a huge difference to lives, outcomes, and survival,” said Tim Koeman, nurse educator at the URMC Pediatric Outpatient Unit.
The machine will be deployed Wednesday at St. John Fisher College on the first day of training camp for the Buffalo Bills. From there, officials expect to bring it to various events in Monroe County.
For more information and resources on CPR training, visit the American Heart Association website.
