New Red Cross Citizen CPR course offered free to first 1,000

registrants in six county area

Excellus BlueCross BlueShield underwrites training costs to make our
communities better prepared

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Monday, September 19, 2011—When cardiac arrest occurs, the chances of survival increase drastically with speedy medical assistance. But emergency first responders take time to get to the scene and only about three percent of the population is trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Current research shows that continuous compression-only CPR can be effective in caring for a person with no signs of life when a rescuer is unable, untrained or unwilling to perform full CPR.

The Red Cross has developed a new course, called Citizen CPR, to help increase the number of trained individuals in our communities. Citizen CPR teaches a hands-only technique—no rescue breaths are administered—that maintains blood circulation and has the potential to prolong survival until medical help arrives.

“Citizen CPR is a way to get people trained who might not have the time or resources for a full-blown CPR course,” said John Buttrill, CEO of the American Red Cross of the Finger Lakes NY Region. “In addition, some people just don’t feel comfortable providing rescue breaths; Citizen CPR is a hands-only alternative.”

The Finger Lakes NY Region of the American Red Cross has set a goal to train 1,000 people across the region in Citizen CPR. They have teamed up with Excellus BlueCross BlueShield to attempt to meet that goal in one day.

“Citizen CPR is a practical, pragmatic way to help someone who is in cardiac arrest until more medical help arrives,” said Carl M. Devore, M.D, associate medical director for Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. “We are encouraging people throughout the Rochester area to take this training and increase their awareness of this public health issue.
 
Individuals can visit rochesterredcross.org/cprsaturday to register for Citizen CPR, which will take place on Saturday, September 24. The first 1,000 individuals will be accepted for the training, which is free due to Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s generous sponsorship. Courses will be offered in Monroe, Livingston, Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates Counties at the following locations:

Rochester
American Red Cross, 50 Prince Street, Rochester NY 14607
8:30 a.m.; 10:00 a.m.; 11:30 a.m.

Livingston County
Hampton Corners County Highway Department, 4389 Gypsy Lane, Mount Morris NY 14510
8:30 a.m.; 10:00 a.m.; 11:30 a.m.; 1:00 p.m.; 2:30 p.m.; 4:00 p.m.

Ontario County
American Red Cross West Ontario Office, 5297 Parkside Drive, Suite 301,
Canandaigua NY 14424
8:30 a.m.; 10:00 a.m.; 11:30 a.m.

Geneva Recreation Center, 666 Exchange Street, Geneva NY 14456
9:00 a.m.; 10:30 a.m.; 1:00 p.m.

Richmond Town Hall, Route 20A, Honeoye NY 14471
10:00 a.m.; 11:30 a.m.; 1:00 p.m.

Seneca County
American Red Cross in the Finger Lakes, 83 West Bayard Street, Seneca Falls NY 13148
9:00 a.m.; 10:30 a.m.; 1:00 p.m.

Wayne County
American Red Cross, 200 S. Main, Newark NY 14513
8:00 a.m.; 9:30 a.m.; 11:00 a.m.; 12:30 p.m.

Palmyra Community Center, 424 Stafford Street, Palmyra NY 14522
8:00 a.m.; 9:30 a.m.; 11:00 a.m.; 12:30 p.m.

Yates County
Branchport-Keuka Park Fire Department, 3686 Rt 54A, Branchport, NY 14418
10:00 a.m.

Dresden Volunteer Fire Department, Firehouse Ave, Dresden, NY 14441
10:00 a.m.

Himrod Volunteer Fire Department, 3530 Himrod Rd., Himrod, NY 14842
10:00 a.m.

For more information about Citizen CPR, contact Erin D. Caldwell at 585-241-4419 or logon to rochesterredcross.org/cprsaturday.

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization—not a government agency—and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit rochesterredcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

About Excellus BlueCross BlueShield
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, a nonprofit independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association, is part of a family of companies that finances and delivers vital health care services to 1.8 million people across upstate New York. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield provides access to high-quality, affordable health coverage, including valuable health-related resources that our members use every day, such as cost-saving prescription drug discounts and wellness tracking tools in our Step Up program. To learn more, visit www.excellusbcbs.com.