By RACHEL BRANT
Staff writer
For the fifth year in a row, the American Red Cross serving King and Kitsap counties strives to teach at least 200 young people life-saving skills.
The American Red Cross is sponsoring a free CPR Saturday for Teens Saturday, Jan. 26 at Kitsap Mall in Silverdale.
CPR Saturday for Teens is geared toward students ages 12 to 18 and will teach participants life-saving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills.
“We keep doing it (CPR Saturday) because the Red Cross feels that there should be one member of every family trained to save lives,” said Kelly Finch, American Red Cross volunteer coordinator for the West Sound Service Center.
Finch added that CPR Saturday for Teens is a way to empower teenagers and give them the ability to help others when necessary. Being CPR certified also is good to put on job resumés, according to Finch.
“(Teenagers) are a group that really can help in a situation,” he said. “They’re young and they’re smart.”
About 30 American Red Cross volunteers will teach the teenagers CPR in selected store spaces at Kitsap Mall. Participants will watch a video, demonstrate CPR techniques on mannequins and take a 15-question test. Classes last about two-and-a-half hours. Teenagers who have pre-registered for the event will receive their CPR certification, good for one year, upon successful completion of the physical demonstration and test.
“They will get their certification card when they leave if they pre-registered,” Finch said.
Participants are encouraged to pre-register for CPR Saturday for Teens by Friday, Jan. 25. If space allows, Finch said they will accept people at the registration table the day of the event.
“We encourage people to pre-register. That guarantees them a spot,” Finch said. “They can come to the site and register, but there is no guarantee at that point.”
Classes will be at various times throughout the day. When participants pre-register, they should specify which session they will be attending. Classes are at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m. 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
“We ask that they arrive at least 15 minutes before their session,” Finch said.
Some teenagers have already registered for the event, but Finch said spaces are still available. Call (360) 377-3761 ext. 10205 or e-mail westsoundevent@seattleredcross.org to register.
“(Spots) will go fast, but there’s plenty available,” Finch said. “If they want to come out we encourage them to do so.”
CPR Saturday for Teens
Saturday, Jan. 26, Kitsap Mall
Classes at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Free
Call (360) 377-3761 ext. 10205 or e-mail westsoundevent@seattleredcross.org to pre-register for the event.
