Heart Event Coming to Mid Rivers Mall

Free blood glucose & cholesterol screenings; BMI & blood pressure readings; CPR classes

The phrase 'shop till you drop' has been around for ages, but according to the American Heart Association [AHA], an overwhelming number of Americans would feel 'helpless' to act if someone near them in a mall, grocery store or other public venue were to collapse following a sudden cardiac arrest.  The AHA reports an astonishing 70 percent of Americans would not know what to do in this situation. 

On Saturday, February 10, St. Charles County Ambulance District [SCCAD] Paramedics and the team at BJC Healthcare will celebrate Heart Month with Lifesaver CPR at Mid Rivers Mall - a free, family-friendly training event aimed at helping individuals throughout the metro area learn the skills needed to help a victim of sudden cardiac arrest or choking.  Training will be offered from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and typically takes about 15 minutes to complete. 

"The common denominator in virtually all successful cardiac arrest resuscitations is good-quality CPR prior to Paramedics' arrival," said SCCAD Deputy Chief Medical Director John Romeo, "Bystanders are a vital link in the chain of survival, and our goal with Lifesaver CPR is to give residents of our community the knowledge and confidence to intervene during a cardiac emergency."

Paramedics encourage families with children of all ages to attend the training - though young children may not have the strength to perform chest compressions, they're still learning proper rate, rhythm and technique that they could pass along to another rescuer in the event of an emergency.

Also at the event, BJC invites attendees to utilize the 'Know Your Numbers' kiosk - a unique device designed to measure blood pressure, body mass index, and pulse rate.  Nurses also will be on hand to check total cholesterol and blood glucose – two other key metrics that play a role in cardiac health.

“This event is a great opportunity for families to come out to the mall and learn important information that could save a life," said Dr. David Fouts, medical director for the emergency department at Progress West Hospital.  "We're excited to partner with SCCAD again this year to inform people of ways to save the lives of others and steps they can take to improve their own health, as well."

This marks the second time that BJC and SCCAD have come together at Mid Rivers Mall for Lifesaver CPR – last year’s event saw more than 350 individuals from around the metro area come together to learn this important life-saving skill.

Lifesaver CPR is intended to provide base knowledge to lay rescuers; it does not yield a certification card that may be required by some workplaces.