HCA Florida North Florida Hospital today announced it is partnering with the American Heart Association to empower students with lifesaving CPR skills by providing training equipment to high schools in Alachua, Levy, Gilchrist and Dixie counties.
“At HCA Florida North Florida Hospital, we are committed to improving the health and well-being of the communities we serve,” said Gabe Bullaro, chief executive officer of HCA Florida North Florida Hospital. “By supporting CPR education in our schools, we are helping to build a generation of lifesavers who are prepared to act when every second counts.”
Each year, more than 350,000 people in the United States experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital. Immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chance of survival, making early education and training critical.
Funded through a grant from the HCA Healthcare Foundation and with the support of HCA Florida North Florida Hospital, 12 high schools across Alachua County as well as additional schools in surrounding counties will receive the American Heart Association’s CPR in Schools® Training Kits, equipping students with the knowledge and confidence to respond in an emergency. Hospital leaders presented a ceremonial $50,000 check to the American Heart Association last weekend to fund a total of 53 kits being distributed to high schools across North Central Florida.
“We are thankful to the HCA Healthcare Foundation for its support of our CPR in Schools initiative,” said Shelby Bobbett, American Heart Association Senior Director, North/Central Florida. “Knowing how to respond in a cardiac emergency can be the difference between life and death, and we are excited to add the Alachua County school community to the Nation of Lifesavers.”
The American Heart Association’s CPR in Schools Training Kits allow students to learn Hands-Only CPR and basic first aid skills in a single class period. The kits are reusable and can train thousands of students over time, creating a lasting impact across the community.
To learn more about CPR, visit the American Heart Association website.