It’s CPR/AED Awareness Week, June 1-7, 2010

Learn the Skills and Save a Life! Sidney, Eric and Kathy did.

Across UTAH (Tuesday, June 1, 2010) — The American Red Cross encourages at least one member in every Utah family to take a class and learn First Aid and CPR. June 1-7 is National CPR and AED Awareness Week. Ask a few of the Red Cross course instructors if they’ve ever used their skills to save a life and you’ll hear some interesting stories.

Kathy Allen of Eden, Utah saved her own husband’s life during a scuba trip in Hawaii. Her husband nearly drowned. She and her son performed CPR to save his life. “I really want to encourage Utah families to learn First Aid and CPR. You never know when you are going to need those skills.” Kathy is a volunteer instructor for the Northern Utah Chapter of the Red Cross.

CPR instructor Sidney Curry of Layton recounts, “The year was 1980. We heard a clatter of clubs on the previous green, turned to see the problem and saw a gentleman lying on his back on the green. We ran over and immediately tilted his head and listened for breathing. There was none so I gave him two rescue breaths and he coughed and came to. Someone called 911 so we got him to a bench and monitored him until the paramedics arrived. I called the course the next day and found out that the man was fine even though he had a heart attack. The family said to give profuse thanks. I walked on a cloud for days.” Sidney estimates he’s taught about 15,000 people CPR/First Aid and certified about 500 instructors in California and here in Utah.

Eric Kiltz is a Red Cross volunteer instructor. He uses his CPR and AED skills frequently as he works in a hospital. He also knows his skills can come in handy away from his job. He shared, “The car wreck happened on 3100 South in West Valley several years ago. Some bystanders pulled a teen out of the car before I arrived, when I first walked up to him, he was awake and breathing (although his respirations were labored). When I kneeled down I noticed that he had stopped breathing and had no pulse so I began compressions. A police officer arrived quickly but didn’t have any medical training so he stood by and diverted traffic. It took about 10 minutes until a fire truck came up and the medics relieved me. I never found out what happened to the kid.” Eric does know the teen would have had zero chance of survival without the CPR.


Learn how to save a life, take a class at your local Red Cross.

Visit the Utah Red Cross website to sign up. And share your life-saving stories with us!