CPR training among department services
RUSSELLVILLE — City firefighters are trying to get the word out to the public about a variety of free services they offer, including CPR classes and blood pressure and sugar level screenings.
Fire Chief Joe Mansell said this is part of an effort to serve the city.
“You do this job because you love it,” Mansell said. “You have that serving heart. That’s the thing we want to do. We want to serve the community. At the end of the day, that’s what God would want us to do, is help others, and that’s the reason we do this.”
Capt. Chris Watkins said the next free nocertification CPR class is May 21 from 5 to 8 p.m. He said anyone interested in attending can call him at 256-324-1672.
“We want to start doing these about every three months,” Watkins said. “We’ll go over some instructions, watch some videos and then we’ll actually work some skills with a mannequin.”
Participants also will be instructed on using automated external defibrillators. Watkins said the department will use its AEDs as part of training, but many businesses and churches have AEDs. If people want to bring those firefighters will train them on using them.
“We can get their hands on it and verbalize how they are going to use it,” Watkins said. “It’s just good to not be in a situation where the first time you’ve seen it is when you use it.”
CONTRIBUTED DAN BUSEY
Russellville Fire Department Capt. Chris Watkins holds two battery-powered smoke alarms which the department offers free to city residents. Fire Chief Joe Mansell said the department’s goal is to have at least one working smoke detector in every structure in the city.
The session also covers handling choking victims, which includes adults, children and infants, he said.
Watkins said immediate treatment while awaiting fire or ambulance officials to respond can make a major difference between life and death, and even in quality of life if the patient survives. He said approximately 80% of cardiac arrests occur in the home.
Mansell said some people are apprehensive about using CPR but having basic knowledge on it is important.
“A lot of people get nervous that they may do something wrong or hurt somebody, but if you do nothing, you still have a patient not breathing and with no pulse,” he said. “We just want the community to feel comfortable if they have to do CPR.”
Mansell said anybody who needs their blood pressure of blood sugar checked can come to the fire station.
“We also want the community to know if they do come and knock on the door and the guys are gone on a call, just call back or come back by,” he said.
Mansell said Fire Marshal Justin Green provides free home inspections for residents of Russellville.
“If somebody has a concern and just wants someone to walk through and see if there is anything that could be a fire hazard, we offer that,” Mansell said. “We can’t make you do anything in your home. It’s just a recommendation.”
In addition, the department officers free smoke detectors and installation, Mansell said. The department’s number is 256-3328760.
“The whole goal is to have at least one working smoke detector in every structure in the city of Russellville,” he said. “It will save lives.”
City officials also have purchased a virtual reality program that takes participants through the process of putting out a fire with an extinguisher.
“You put glasses on and instead of actually having to use a fire extinguisher it looks like you’re using it,” Mansell said. “We want to offer it to anybody in the city. If a business wants to teach employees, we can do it without using up a fire extinguisher.”
The department also has two devices that check swimming pools to make sure there are no electrical shorts. Mansell said Florence Fire Rescue started this program and invited local departments to learn how to use them.
