Sunshine Children's Home to Host Free CPR Course for Family, Friends

From Sunshine Children's Home and Rehab Center:

The Sunshine Children’s Home, a long-term pediatric care facility for children with complex medical needs, will host a free Family & Friends CPR course from 10 a.m. to noon on May 21 in the main building of the home, located at 15 Spring Valley Rd. in Ossining. This American Heart Association workshop is for people who would like to learn the valuable skills of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but do not need a course completion certificate.

This program teaches skills in CPR, AED use and relief of choking in adults, children and infants. The course uses the research-proven practice-while-watching format and is taught by Sunshine's American Heart Association instructors.

Anyone required by his or her employer or wishing to be credentialed as a lay-responder should take a Heartsaver ® course. Information on credentialed class schedules can be obtained by contacting plisti@sunshinechildrenshome.org.

Mastering these skills can mean the difference between life and death. According to the American Heart Association, effective CPR can double or triple the chance of survival for a victim suffering cardiac arrest -- and since 70 percent of incidents of cardiac arrest occur in the home, odds are the life saved will be a loved one.

This course is ideal for schools and students, new parents, grandparents, babysitters and anyone interested in learning how to save a life. The event is open to the public, but space is limited. To register, participants should contact Paula by calling (914) 333-7051 or email plisti@sunshinechildrenshome.org. Refreshments will be served.

The mission of the Sunshine Children’s Home and Rehab Center is to create a loving and supportive environment that provides the highest level of quality pediatric care for children who need it. Sunshine provides a quality home for children from birth to 18 years of age who require post-acute medical care and/or rehabilitative therapy, combined with psychological and developmental interventions. About 46 percent of the children in residence require palliative care, while an equal percentage of others improve enough with care to be discharged to a group or community facility, or ideally, at home with their families.

Further information is available through the Sunshine Children's Home and Rehab Center website.