Southwell hosts community hands-only CPR class

TIFTON — Southwell held its first community hands-only CPR class at Phlawless Barber Shop in downtown Tifton recently. Offered free to area residents, hands-only CPR is a simplified form of CPR using chest compressions and no mouth-to-mouth breaths.

“According to the American Heart Association, hands-only CPR carried out by a bystander has been shown to be as effective as CPR with breaths in the first few minutes during an out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest for an adult victim,” RN Jill Dowers McIntyre, the director of diversity, inclusion, and wellness for Southwell, said. “For those who suffer a cardiac arrest outside of the hospital, the chance of survival is less than 10%. Brain damage can occur in four minutes and for every minute without CPR, the chance of survival goes down by 10%.”

McIntyre said the goal is a simple one: to save as many lives as possible.

“The hands-only CPR is a free course designed for anyone who desires potentially life-saving hands-on practical experience in chest compression-only CPR,” she said. “Southwell will be holding more courses at select community locations in the future.”

McIntyre added that organizations or businesses interested in a free hands-only CPR class can visit www.MySouthwell.com to complete an online request form.

“Our goal is to bring these classes directly to the community using a grassroots approach,” McIntyre said. “This is a collaborative effort between Tift Regional Medical Center’s Heart and Vascular Center, Southwell’s Learning and Development Department, Southwell Medical Community Health Center, and the Southwell Diversity Council.”

Special Photo: Southwell