TVF&R, Tigard Police and Valley Catholic teach Hands-Only CPR at Washington Square Mall

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Valley Catholic students will join Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue (TVF&R) firefighters and Tigard Police in teaching hands-only CPR to Washington Square Mall guests and retailers on Saturday, February 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the area near Macy’s.

Students, police officers, and firefighters will demonstrate how easy it is to perform hands-only CPR by practicing the skill on manikins. Pushing hard and fast on the center of the chest to the beat of the Bee Gees’ song “Staying Alive” can maintain circulation and breathing for a cardiac patient until firefighter-paramedics arrive to begin advanced medical care.

“With as many shoppers that walk through our door on a given day, we hope Washington Square’s visibility will lead to more people receiving proper CPR training and hopefully help save lives in the process,” said Maria Halstead, senior property manager at Washington Square. “We are proud to support our local Tualatin Valley first responders and their efforts to spread awareness of heart health and to teach our visitors how to perform CPR and lifesaving techniques.”

According to the American Heart Association, more than 350,000 people experience cardiac arrest each year outside of a hospital setting. A victim’s chance of survival decreases by 10 percent for each minute without CPR from the time of arrest, making bystander intervention crucial. When community members are willing and able to provide early CPR, and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are readily available, the chances of a patient surviving a cardiac emergency increase.