OEM Sponsors "Bystander CPR Training" for DPW Staff
The Middlesex Borough Office of Emergency Management Sponsors “Bystander CPR Training” for Entire Borough Dept. of Public Works Staff
On September 29, 2022, the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) was pleased to host MedicZero, a nonprofit organization of current medical school students from top rated institutions across the tri state area, with a passion for empowering the community with bystander-appropriate Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) techniques. OEM sponsored the bystander hands-only CPR training for all of the Borough’s Department of Public Works (DPW) staff, as well as any other interested Borough staff. OEM members were also present and on hand to assist.
The training was a huge success, maxing out at 35 attendees of various ages and previous CPR abilities. After an informative and enlightening presentation from Pranya Gaddipati, the Chief Operating Officer of MedicZero, attendees were able to recognize and act in an appropriate and time sensitive manner on the characteristics of strokes and different cardiac episodes and situations.
Attendees were taught how to quickly assess a situation, recognize and identify stroke symptoms and cardiac episode symptoms, apply chest compressions effectively, use an automated external defibrillator (AED), and maximize every crucial minute in a life threatening event.
“A lot of us have done CPR training before and years ago,” explained DPW Superintendent Leonard Vidal. “But after this one, I feel, we all are walking away learning a lot of new information to make the best decisions and actions for these situations in the future.”
It is the goal of OEM Administrator, Barbara Benson, along with Director Jack Costa, and Deputy Lee Poandl, with sponsor and support from the Middlesex Public Library and Library Director, Chrissy George, to bring this program to the entire Middlesex Borough community at NO COST to attendees. This program is tailored to serve and teach anyone aged 10 years old and up.
“Emergency preparedness doesn’t just mean having a go bag,” states OEM Administrator Barbara Benson. “You have to be prepared on every level. If you’re in the presence of a cardiac or stroke situation YOU are the help before the help arrives. Every minute during a stroke or cardiac situation is crucial, and it could be awhile before that ambulance arrives.”
“The Library is in the business of bringing information to the public, and there is no more valuable information than how to save a life,” says Library Director Chrissy George. “We are thrilled to work with OEM to assist in the goal of empowering every Middlesex resident to have the skills to save their neighbors.”
MedicZero’s mission “seeks to enable bystanders with the confidence to recognize emergencies and initiate care, encourage the delivery of skillful, evidence-based care by providers, and construct community paramedicine initiatives to improve the prehospital landscape.” With chapters across the tri state area in different universities, these EMTs, doctor and nursing students, under direction of licensed doctors endorsed from Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians (FACEP), MedicZero strives to bring community emergency medical interventions suitable for the layperson and bystander to do as much possible in the “prehospital stages” of cardiac episodes. For more information on MedicZero, visit them on the web, at www.mediczero.org.
As the OEM decree states, “Disaster can strike at any time. We all have a personal responsibility to be ready. Help us preserve our future.” This is an invaluable opportunity to empower the entire community, and OEM is ready to make ALL of Middlesex a community that’s informed and fully prepared to save a life. For more information on upcoming classes, be sure to keep an eye on the OEM social media, at: www.facebook.com/MiddlesexBoroOEM.
Also, visit OEM at www.middlesexboro-nj.gov/emergency-management to learn about volunteer opportunities and more.