THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 26, 1995 TAG: 9503230167
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOHN HARPER
CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: CURRITUCK LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
THE POWELLS POINT Christian Church has a brand new pack of life savers.
Sixteen of the church's 125 members recently received their ``green cross'' cards after completing the American Heart Association's cardiopulmonary resuscitation class.
Taught by Currituck County Emergency Medical Technician Darlene Beacham, the class took place Feb. 24 and 25.
The class was sponsored by the Women's Ministry and was organized by Sharon Forbes and Margaret Kuhn.
``Our local doctor, Jimmy Owens, takes good care of us,'' Kuhn says, ``but we felt like learning CPR would be good.''
CPR is the first link in the lifesaving chain for people in cardiac arrest. And Lower Currituck Fire Chief and paramedic Stanley Griggs says the sooner CPR is started, the better the chances of survival.
``The first six seconds are the most important,'' Griggs says. ``After that, the body's main organs start to shut down.''
CPR classes are normally conducted in two sessions totalling nine hours. Currituck County uses the guidelines set by the National Safety Council.
``We apply the same standards as the American Red Cross program,'' Griggs says.
Students in the basic CPR course pick up other lifesaving techniques, as well, such as the Heimlich maneuver for victims of choking.
``One thing we stress,'' Griggs says, ``is teaching our residents on how to start the 9ll process.''
Often the person administering CPR fails to notify the paramedics or loses track of time and place. Griggs stresses the need to give the dispatcher clear directions to the patient's house.
``CPR is not a miracle,'' Griggs says. ``It just keeps people alive until qualified medical personnel can reach the scene.''
According to the American Heart Association, about 10 percent of Americans are trained to administer CPR. Griggs says that figure is about the same in Currituck County.
So far, none of the new green cross cardholders has been called into service. But Griggs and his crew answer about three cardiac arrest calls a month. And last summer, Griggs experienced firsthand the importance of a civilian knowing CPR.
``A woman was struck by lightning on the beach in Corolla, and we had to four-wheel it to get to her. An off-duty lifeguard administed CPR,'' Griggs said. ``And she survived.''
In emergency medical technician lingo, a ``save'' is when a person lives after receiving CPR. Griggs says there have been three saves in the last six months in Currituck County.
The Women's Ministry of Powells Point Christian Church has scheduled another CPR class for the beginning of May. Pastor Glenn White and his wife, Sherry, plan to take the course then. The pastor's brother, Edward, brought his wife Judith, son Thomas and daughter Sarah from Chesapeake for the first class.
Kuhn says the response from the community to the new life savers is positive.
``We're all excited,'' Kuhn says of the 116-year-old church's congregation. ``We have 16 people who could save someone's life.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo courtesy of Powells Point Christian Church
Powells Point Christian Church has scheduled a second CPR class to
be held in May.
LIFESAVERS
The following people completed CPR training:
Karen Etheridge
Carrie Fiedorczyk
Sharon Forbes
Bettie Gabbard
Brenda Miller
James Miller
Bonnie McClellan
Tracy Peace Norris
Cindy Staples
Patty Stark
Lisa VanCuren
Joyce Wells
Edward White
Judith White
Thomas White
Sarah White
by CNB