Del Webb CERT Sponsors AED / CPR, Choking Relief Classes for Residents

Del Webb Residents Learn Basic Safety Skills in CERT Sponsored Class

Based on the success and positive feedback from last year’s AED / CPR classes, CERT again sponsored Landes Emergency Training Services to provide two more sessions of bystander training focused on hands-only CPR, AED usage, and choking relief.

Ruth Landes, President and Owner, along with her assistant Lily, taught attendees how to:

  • Recognize the signs of a heart attack
  • Check for unresponsiveness and abnormal breathing
  • Properly apply chest compressions
  • Use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator)
  • Properly place our bodies and hands to perform abdominal thrusts
  • Engage the people around you in an emergency to team up with you

“Some people are hesitant to get involved because they don’t have the skills of a first responder,” says Howard Malis, CERT President. “Of course, the first thing anyone must do is call 911. But, before EMS arrives, applying these life-saving skills can make the difference. These classes are intended to provide some hands-on practice and help people navigate these critical situations. To date, about 150 residents have participated in these classes, and we plan to host another in the fall.”

Special thanks to CERT members Tom Gwiazdowski, Maureen Rossi, Chris Fulford, John Fulford and Sheree Parke for helping out with the arrangements and hosting the night of the event.

Del Webb Lakewood Ranch CERT’s mission is to provide education and preparedness training to our community. We also provide assistance to the community in the aftermath of a disaster by assessing for damage and communicating directly to the Manatee County Emergency Operations Center.

Other events we have sponsored include our yearly hurricane preparedness presentation, home fire safety by East Manatee Fire Rescue, and senior scams and cyber crime awareness by the Manatee County Crime Prevention Unit.

Del Webb CERT has launched a comprehensive website (https://www.delwebblwrcert.org/) with valuable information and educational videos to help you prepare for possible disasters and emergencies. Plus, the site has a list of local resources to keep you fully informed.

CERT is looking for more Del Webb Lakewood Ranch residents to join our team. Del Webb CERT is part of a nationwide network of neighborhood-based CERTs, sponsored by FEMA. We operate under the auspices of the Manatee County Department of Public Safety, along with about 20 other community CERT organizations.

For more information on how to join, contact us at CERTDelWebbLWR@gmail.com