Red Cross Surpasses Own World Record with 2,187 People Trained at CPR Saturday
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| Hundreds of San Diegans watch the training video at CPR Saturday | Trainees look, listen, and feel for signs of life. | Vista resident Celine Showman, whose life was recently saved by CPR, tells hundreds of attendees how important it is to learn the skill. |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2008
Contact: Peyton Roberts, 858-309-1271
(San Diego) - With the help of 548 volunteers and instructors, the San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter of the American Red Cross trained 2,187 people in CPR this past Saturday at the 17th Annual CPR Saturday. This number surpasses the Guinness World Record of 2,152 people certified set by the local Red Cross in 2005 (although the official Guinness record was not sought this year). Of those trained, about 140 were in Spanish and an additional 119 children ages 5 to 11 were taught basic safety and water safety in the Children's Area, for a grand total of 2,306 participants at this free family event.
In addition to the hundreds of volunteers who made the event possible, the Red Cross would like to thank its sponsors Cymer, Inc., and Emerson Network Power, KYXY 96.5 FM, the Hervey Family Fund at the San Diego Foundation, GKN Aerospace, Viejas Enterprises and Ace Parking.
About the American Red Cross, San Diego and Imperial Counties Chapter
The American Red Cross is not a government agency and relies on the generosity of the American people to provide our programs and services. The San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter is leading the effort to make San Diego and Imperial Counties America’s most prepared communities. With the public’s ongoing support we provide life saving preparedness training; disaster relief services; 24-hour emergency services to deployed military personnel and their families; and nutritional counseling through our Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. For more information about or to support the chapter please contact 858-309-1200 or visit www.sdarc.org.
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Editor's Note: An American flag was flown over the command post at Camp Fallujah in Iraq on March 15th in honor of CPR Saturday. This tribute was initiated by Gunnery Sgt. Tim Hartmann, a locally-based U.S. Marine and Red Cross CPR instructor and volunteer who usually helps organize CPR Saturday.
Learn more about CPR Saturday.