(Knoxville, TN) – If a person crumpled to the ground near you, would you know what to do? If that person was unconscious, what would you do next?

On May 18 and 21, in observation of National Emergency Medical Services Week, Rural Metro, the Knox County Emergency responder and its parent company, American Medical Response (AMR) and its operations across the country will train thousands of people to save lives through compression-only CPR. Compression-only CPR is easy to learn and has the ability to keep a cardiac arrest victim alive until paramedics arrive.

Everyone in Knox County has an opportunity to receive this important training absolutely free. It takes only 15 minutes or so and is being offered at locations across Knoxville and Knox County. Everyone is invited to attend. No reservations are needed; people can just stop by.

“While our paramedics often get to an emergency quickly, during cardiac arrest immediate action can make the difference,” said Chris Blach, Vice President of Operations for Rural Metro of East Tennessee. “Compression-only CPR can help save lives and is easy to perform. We hope that schools, businesses and other groups will take this opportunity to get trained in compression-only CPR at no cost, making our community an even safer place to live. Our primary goal is to save as many lives as possible, and we hope we can get more people excited about learning CPR by being part of a nationwide event.”

Compression-only CPR allows bystanders to keep blood flowing through a victim’s body just by pressing on the chest in a hard, fast rhythm. It has proven to be effective in saving lives.

Those attending will also be taught how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) which are increasingly available in public locations. Just this year the Tennessee Legislature passed a law requiring both faculty and students at schools with AEDs to receive such training.

Here in Knox County, the training will be offered from 10-2 p.m. on both days at the following locations:

MAY 18:

  • West Town Mall
  • Farragut Town Hall
  • Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
  • Hallsdale Powell Utility District Community Room
  • Ijams Nature Center
  • New Harvest Park

MAY 21:

  • Pellissippi State-Hardin Valley Road
  • Pellissippi State-Magnolia Avenue
  • Pellissippi State-Strawberry Plains Pike

To find out more about compression-only CPR and find out how your group can be part of this event, please visit www.amr.net/cpr or call Christopher McClain at 865.978.1224.

“This might help you save a life,” said Blach. “We’re the volunteer state, so in that spirit I hope people turn out in bigger numbers here than anywhere else across the country and get this free and important training.”

Last year the nationwide effort trained more than 67,000 people. This is the first year Knox County is participating.

###

About American Medical Response

American Medical Response, Inc., America’s leading provider of medical transportation, provides services in 40 states and the District of Columbia. More than 25,000 AMR paramedics, EMTs, RNs and other professionals work together to transport more than 4.4 million patients nationwide each year in critical, emergency and non-emergency situations. AMR, a subsidiary of Envision Healthcare Corporation, is headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colo. For more information about AMR, visit www.amr.net and follow @AMR_Social on Twitter.