FORT RILEY, Kan. -- Saving lives -- that's what Fort Riley's CPR and automated external defibrillator, or AED, training is all about.
"If you save that one life, that's what makes this all worthwhile," said Richard Watson, health and safety officer, Directorate of Emergency Services, who organizes the ongoing training. "You get the training, apply it to everyday life and just be ready. You never know when it's going to happen."
Watson organizes half-day training sessions to certify Department of Defense employees and contractors in CPR and AED through the American Heart Association curriculum.
His goal, he said, is to train as many employees as possible because it increases the chances of lives being saved.
"We're trying to reach as many people as we can," he said. "The more people we train up, the more people that can help in this situation."
John Reardon, rail crew member, Logistics Readiness Center, encourages others to take the training.
"CPR is great for everyone to know because you never know -- you may need it for someone you love," he said. "Everyone should have (the training). Don't be afraid of it."
Topics covered include critical timelines, compression ratios, airway obstruction and the Heimlich maneuver. The course also covers what to do if a victim is an adult, child or infant.
"It's what we call the whole-person concept," Watson said. "So if you're on duty at work, you're going to be able to hopefully put the steps in place to potentially save somebody's life. But it also affects you at home with (family) … being able to take care of folks away from the post and off duty as well."
Fort Riley has a public access defibrillator program in place, with AEDs containing clear instructions located throughout post.
"But with the training, it adds a degree of certainty to the steps that are involved," Watson said. "It also takes away the fear factor. If somebody doesn't know, they're less likely to step up."
Upcoming class dates are Oct. 27 and 30.
For more details or to sign up for a class, call 785-240-6241 or email richard.e.watson1.civ@mail.mil.
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