SQUADRON 356 PARTNERS UP WITH CPR/CCC ACROSS AMERICA

By: Staff Sergeant Phillip Kittelson

Group IV Public Affairs Officer



Photos By Crystal Ochoa/Arizona Republic





LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, ARIZ.--Twenty CAP cadets from the Frank Luke Jr Cadet Squadron 356 gathered together Friday night to learn Continuous Chest Compression (CCC) CPR.



The event, hosted in conjunction with CPR Across America, "a grass roots movement created to motivate the masses to learn CPR," was made possible by Kate Jaramillo, also known as Miss Kate, a firm believer and a local force behind the CCC effort.



When Miss Kate was young, her father died as a result of a traumatic head injury in a head on car accident. Ever since, she's been studying emergency medicine, and last year donated 50 CPR mannequins to the Arizona Wing of the Civil Air Patrol.



Spearheaded by Group IV, the event, hosted Friday on Luke AFB, sets the stage Miss Kate says, "other states will be following what we do here in Arizona."



According to the American Heart Association, standard CPR has a victim survival rate of 30%, while CCC has shown an increased survival rate of up to 80%.



CPR Across America plans to host a traveling event using 500 mannequins from New Mexico, through Arizona, and finally landing on the USS Midway in California on December 5th. Mannequins for the event can be purchased at a reduced price of $100. Mannequin purchases will be handled by Region 2 EMS Inc located in Las Cruces, New Mexico.



CAP is being used as the vehicle to get the mannequins moved from event to event, with local fire personnel provide the training to participants.



Along with the culminating event, the American Heart Association will be unveiling their new guidelines, officially incorporating CCC into their curriculum.



To purchase mannequins, contact Tim Zagorski, Executive Director Region 2 EMS Inc. 250 B West Amador Las Cruces, NM 88005 Telephone - (575) 524-2167 Fax - (575) 524-4639 or through email at general@region2ems.com.