HCA Florida Healthcare hospitals donate CPR & First Aid in Youth Sports Training kits to Charlotte County Public Schools

ENGLEWOOD, Fla. June 21, 2023 – You never know when you will have an opportunity to save a life. According to the American Heart Association, 70% of cardiac arrests happen in homes. Of those, only 40% receive the immediate help that they need before professional help arrives. Hands-only CPR has been shown to be as effective in the first few minutes as conventional CPR for cardiac arrest at home, at work or in public.
 
During National CPR Week, Michael Ehrat, market lead and CEO of HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital,  Steve Young, CEO of HCA Florida Englewood Hospital and Kristine Aristide, senior development director with the American Heart Association met with Charlotte County Public Schools Superintendent Stephen Dionisio to present CPR & First Aid in Youth Sports Training kits. The kits include 10 Mini Anne Plus inflatable mannequins, 10 AED training simulators, a facilitator guide with lesson plans, 5 practice-while-watching videos and all of the supporting items needed to provide education for students.
 
“I had an opportunity to serve as the chairman for the Charlotte County Heart Walk this year so I’m very pleased that we were able to present these life-saving educational devices. It is important that our younger generations learn this skill to improve the safety of our communities,” said Michael Ehrat.
 
Stephen Dionisio who received the CPR and First-Aid kits noted, “This donation is not only to help us teach kids, but possibly be lifesavers so the magnitude of that is something that can’t be measured. We can’t thank the group enough for partnering with Charlotte County Public Schools.”
 
When asked why the hospitals chose to donate the CPR training aids to the schools, Steve Young said, “Teaching high school students and student athletes lifesaving CPR skills and how to use an AED will allow them to help in an emergency on and off the field. I would encourage everyone to learn CPR.”
 
The American Heart Association partnered with the Englewood Hospital and Fawcett Hospital to provide Hands-Only CPR demonstrations using the CPR and First Aid in Youth Sports Training kits for a high school basketball tournament held at Charlotte County Public Schools recently. The event hosted over 325 players, staff and spectators who had the opportunity to learn bystander CPR techniques which would allow them to act in an emergency.
 
Take 90 seconds to learn how to save a life. Visit heart.org/handsonlycpr to watch the Hands-Only CPR instructional video.
 
Learn more about cardiovascular care at HCA Florida Healthcare.