Alexandra Martinakova photos
Sarah Steinbeck tries out the CPR beat on the mannequin.
Learning about hands-on CPR at Mitchell.
Bruni Pizarro crossed her palms and compressed the chest of the mannequin below her to the disco beat of the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” as Daniel Pizarro stuck the pads of an automated external defibrillator to it right next to her.
Both of them, along with 16 other people, practiced those life-saving moves as part of a CPR/AED class at Mitchell Branch Library in Westville.
The class was offered at 37 Harrison St. Monday afternoon by the New Haven Free Public Library and Yale New Haven Health.
“This program through the library is focused through New Haven, but I am willing to go anywhere in the community on behalf of Yale,” said Heather Dinneen, who led the training and works with Yale Center for EMS as a teacher in the EMT program and as the head of community outreach.
Dinneen started the class with a power-point presentation about hands-only CPR by showing a video from the American Red Cross and explaining step-by-step how to administer CPR and what not to do in that situation.
She demonstrated her technique on the mannequin before taking out the AED and explained how to use it.
While the use of AED is pretty simple as they have vocal cues that guide you through the process, there were a few questions that arose from the crowd and Dinneen answered every single one.
To use an AED — which comes with a pair of scissors and a disposable razor — you have to cut through a person’s clothing to completely expose their chest. If they have hair, you have to shave that spot, otherwise the pads will not stick. While the device is scanning, no one should touch the patient. And no, it is not like in the movies and the person will not arch off the ground in a dramatic fashion.
Unfortunately — as was also the case for Mitchell Branch — there are places that do not have an AED present or it was never reset after use. That is why the hands-only CPR part is so vital to learn.
Before everyone dispersed into the practical part of the training, Dinneen took a second to show everyone how to use Narcan, should a situation arise where it is needed.
She demonstrated how to use the ampule it comes in and emphasized that if anyone suspects overdose they should use it, because if they are wrong, administering Narcan to someone who has some other type of medical emergency will do no harm — but it absolutely could save someone’s life if they are indeed overdosing.
For the practical portion, two mannequins were provided for the participants. Taking turns in pairs, one person would administer CPR and the second one would work with AED, before switching and then letting someone else have a go.
In 2022, bystander CPR rates in Connecticut for instances of cardiac arrest occurring outside of a hospital ranged from 14 to 40 percent, averaging 22 percent against the nationwide 40 percent average. Improving that average to the nationwide level might save 128 lives per year, according to Dinneen.
Residents from Westville and elsewhere nearby took advantage of Monday’s free training, which did not get them certified — but did provide participants with a card saying they passed the class and have the knowledge if needed.
“I just care about folks and I care about making sure that people are thriving and happy and healthy and I just wouldn’t wanna not have that knowledge should something happen,” said Bruni, who lives in Westville. “It’s just crisis prevention. I was just thinking about, ‘What if a situation happens and I don’t have that skill set,’ and I would always feel like I could’ve learnt that.”
“I wanna go into nursing, so having that background information for an emergency is helpful,” said 19-year old Sarah Steinbeck from Seymour, who also works at a summer camp.
Monday’s training was the first one among a few that are scheduled throughout the year. The next one will be at Fair Haven Branch library at 183 Grand Ave., July 17 at 5 p.m. Registration prior online is required.
How To Administer CPR
1. Check the scene for safety.
2. If the person appears unresponsive, check for breathing, responsiveness, life-threatening bleeding.
3. If the person does not respond, call 911 and get the AED or get someone to do so.
4. Lay the person on a firm, flat surface, careful not to injure the head. Kneel beside them.
5. Start CPR:
a. Two hands centered on the chest.
b. Shoulders directly above hands, elbows locked.
c. Compression depth needs to be at least 2 inches.
d. Allow chest to return to normal position after each compression.
e. Sing “Stayin’ Alive” to help you stay on beat (100 – 120 compressions per minute).
6. Use AED as soon as it is available — once opened and turned on, the device guides you through the process with vocal cues.
7. Continue until:
a. Help arrives
b. The person regains consciousness or starts breathing
c. You get tired and ask someone to switch with you
Dinneen explaining the use of AED.
Dinneen helping the Mitchell Branch Library staff to complete the practical training.
Dinneen explains why using Narcan can never harm but always save.
