Politics & Government
Don't Miss a Beat with this CPR Flash Mob Video
Volunteers from Marin performed a spontaneous and danceable training session at the recent Sausalito Art Festival.
With the focus on first-reponders and public safety making headlines because of the 9/11 and San Bruno pipeline disasters, we bring you an upbeat version of CPR training. In fact, it's a riot to watch on this attached YouTube clip.
The Marin County Fire Department collaborated with the County Emergency Medical Services Agency and organized a flash mob at the Sausalito Art Festival over the Labor Day weekend. More than 50 volunteers from hospitals, fire departments and other entities gathered Sept. 3 to show off their moves to the tune of "Stayin' Alive" by the Bee Gees.
The purpose of the flash mob was to raise awareness about hands-nly CPR, a relatively new technique that does not require mouth-to-mouth assisted breathing. A bystander who witnesses a cardiac arrest just has to call 911 and then press “hard and fast” in the center of the victim's chest.
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The group gathered in front of the festival's Artist's Stage at high noon to dance and go through the CPR motions. The music was chosen because it has a beat that matches the rate that you should press on the chest, according to Marin County Fire Battalion Chief Mike Giannini. Of course, the title of the song also sends the right message, too.
The “mob” was organized by Karrie Groves, from the EMS Agency and choreographed by Kerstin Stuart, a local dance instructor.
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“One of the goals was to show people that hands-only CPR is very easy to learn,” Grove said.
Giannini added, “Bystander CPR is critical to surviving cardiac arrest. I wish every single person in the county knew how to perform this skill.”
More information on hands-only CPR can be found at www.handsonlycpr.org. If you'd like some training, contact your local fire department.
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