POIPU — Margie Foster, visiting from Northern California, said she didn’t realize cardio pulmonary resucitation took so much pressure, or you needed to do it so long. Foster, whose husband is a volunteer firefighter, was one of the people who
POIPU — Margie Foster, visiting from Northern California, said she didn’t realize cardio pulmonary resucitation took so much pressure, or you needed to do it so long.
Foster, whose husband is a volunteer firefighter, was one of the people who stopped by a station set up by American Medical Response personnel to teach CPR.
“This is part of National Emergency Medical Services Week,” said Cody Bonilla, an AMR paramedic. “Wednesday is the World CPR Day challenge where we try to teach as many people CPR as possible.”
Bonilla said CPR teaching stations were set up at the Hanalei Big Save, Walmart, Ishihara Market in Waimea, and The Shops at Kukuiula.
He said the goal of teaching people CPR is to help the victim until the emergency response personnel arrives.
“We’re just doing the basic compressions teaching,” Bonilla said. “This is hands-on CPR so people won’t be afraid to help.”
Daeja Cummings, an employee with Poipu Surf at The Shops at Kukuiula, said she stopped by because she’s always wanted to be an EMT and the station gave her a better idea of what the job entails.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of EMS Week.