Red Cross teaching students CPR Thursday

You never know when you may need to perform CPR.

Marie Fussman, health and safety coordinator for the Mid-Michigan Red Cross Chapter, said CPR, or Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is an important skill that everyone should learn.

March is Red Cross month and Fussman is running brief CPR training courses.

She hosted one session Tuesday night and is holding another at 7 p.m. Thursday at Morey Courts, 5175 E. Remus Road.

The courses emphasize non-breathing compression methods of CPR.

“Anyone can learn how to do it,” Fussman said. “Even children can perform it on an adult. Studies have shown that chest compressions alone increase survival rates.”

Harrison senior Derick Roland and Chelsea Osborne, Mid Michigan student, listens to Randy Hawter, a Red Cross instructor from Farwell, on how to use a defibrillator. (Nathan Kostegian/Staff Photographer)

Fussman, along with Red Cross instructor Randy Hauter of Farwell, discussed Tuesday the importance of knowing basic CPR practices.

“If we can get people to just call 911 and start compressions, we can make a huge difference,” Hauter said.

He said survival rates for people who suffer cardiac arrest outside a hospital is fewer than 20 percent if compressions are not started within five minutes.

Derick Roland attended Tuesday’s demonstration and said he has been certified twice.

“It is absolutely important in order to save lives,” the Harrison senior said.

Although he has never had to use his skills, he said he is glad to have them just in case.

Tim Prout, a Central Michigan University police officer, also stressed the importance of CPR training.

“You never know what’s going to happen or when it’s going to happen and you can learn (CPR) for almost nothing,” Prout said.

Fussman said Thursday’s course will not only focus on compression-based CPR but also on how to help someone who is choking by showing a DVD illustrating how to perform these acts along with other first-aid information.