Life-Saving Classes Aren’t Just Priceless, They’re Free

As an ambulance rushes by you to save lives in critical condition, you may experience a fear for what would happen if you had to save loved-ones or keep them in stable condition until EMTs arrived to complete the rescue. Stay calm because the volunteers of the (SAC) offer free classes that equip you with the knowledge to handle emergency situations. 

The 70-plus volunteers balance many responsibilities in their daily lives so CPR and AED classes are only held three or four times a year, said Jerry Gillen, Board President for SAC.

However, some classes in the past have been requested by individuals or groups, said Anne LeTourneau, Vice President of the Board of Directors.

Boys and Girls Scouts groups have been trained on a continual basis in what has been called “Community CPR," a “watered down version where they (the participants) may not receive a (certification) card,” said LeTourneau.

Whether or not the courses lead to certifications for participants, all instructors have been certified by the American Heart Association and renew their certifications every other year, said LeTourneau.

The courses are taught in the board room on the second floor of the SAC building, said LaTourneau. There, the mannequins, defibrillators and breathing devices await those eager to learn life saving procedures.

“We’d like the public to keep a lookout for class schedules,” said Gillen, “because once you learn, you can save a life.”

The SAC volunteer force consists of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and First Responders who balance their work with SAC and their day jobs, said LeTourneau.  These include a variety of professional backgrounds including education, law and clerical assistants, to name a few, according to SAC’s website.

The Corps even includes the retired, according to the SAC website.

“It used to be moms would volunteer while their children were in school,” said Gillen, “now all kinds of people are volunteers.”

According to SAC’s website, the Corps is sustained through the annual membership solicitation drive, not taxes. This makes the community directly responsible for SAC’s prevalence, just as the volunteers are directly responsible for the lives of the citizens of Springfield and the surrounding areas.

Despite the Corps numbers, would-be volunteers still have an opportunity to join.

“We’re always looking for more volunteers” said Gillen. “We supply training and uniforms, and everything except time.”