North Whatcom Fire and Rescue (NWFR) has been offering free CPR classes every month for the public to attend. The classes cover CPR, choking and the use of AEDs, or automated external defibrillators.
“We’ve taught over 3,000 people in the past five years and we cover CPR for adults, children and infants along with how to deal with someone who is choking,” NWFR training captain Kris Jorgensen said. “We see a lot of results from the classes.”
Jorgensen said there have been several cases in the Blaine and Birch Bay communities where CPR has saved someone’s life.
The monthly classes are open to those age 13 or older. If a student is under 18 years old, a parent or guardian must accompany them to the class. A donation of non-perishable food items is recommended but not required. Upon completion, participants will receive certification through an American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI) CPR/AED card.
“We typically have classes in Blaine, up in Semiahmoo and classes near Bellingham,” Jorgensen said. “We do try to put our classes in different areas to reach out to as many people as possible.”
Upcoming 2020 classes include sessions in Bellingham from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 18 and Saturday, March 7. There will also be a session at Station 61 in Blaine on Saturday, February 1 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Station 61 is located at 9408 Odell Road.
Additional first aid classes, which focus on bleeding, burns and other emergencies, are offered twice a year by NWFR.
Those interested in signing up for future classes are encouraged to enroll early, as space is limited and the classes tend to fill up quickly. In order to sign up, visit nwfrs.net/resources/classes.
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