The American Red Cross Badger Chapter has now expanded its lifesaving health and safety training into its newest office in Prairie du Chien. “The community has shown great interest in bringing this training into the area and I believe this is a great opportunity for everyone to become more confident in their ability to help others,” said Ashley Morga, Community Relations Manager for the American Red Cross Badger Chapter. The first class to be offered at the new Prairie du Chien office will be Adult, Child, and Infant CPR and First Aid. Pre-registration is required and those interested should contact the American Red Cross at 1-877-618-6628 to register.

On average, it takes emergency personnel 12 minutes to arrive on scene. For someone who is choking or has stopped breathing that may be too late. By learning simple rescue skills, you can go from a helpless bystander to a person with the ability to take control help someone during an emergency. Becoming trained and certified in first aid and CPR/AED gives the average person the knowledge and skills essential to lessen the effect of injury or sudden illness and helps sustain life until professional responders arrive.

Each year, roughly one million people in the United States suffer from SCA – almost half will die as a result. Being able to perform CPR or use an AED early on is crucial in preventing brain damage and will greatly increase a victim’s odds for survival.

First aid and CPR/AED can not only be used when SCA strikes, but can also help save victims of drowning, electrocution, accidental poisoning, suffocation and drug overdose.