DeKALB – Residents wishing to become certified in basic CPR skills will have three more chances to do so this year after the DeKalb Fire Department held its first of four classes last month.
First aid training includes treating bites and stings, open wounds, burns, choking victims and other emergency situations. Participants will also receive defibrillator training.
The four-hour classes are from 5 to 9 p.m. in the DeKalb Fire Department’s Station One, 700 Pine St. The next class will be on May 24, but there will also be classes on July 26 and Nov. 8.
Attendees will perform some hands-on demonstrations and take a written exam. If the individual passes the test, they will be certified through the American Heart Association.
Firefighter/paramedic Patrick Eriksen said this is a service a lot of fire departments in the nation have started to offer.
“This is just a good way for us to offer a service to the community that shows the effectiveness of CPR,” Eriksen said.
There is a $35 fee to attend the class. To register for a class and pay the fee, visit the city of DeKalb’s finance department at the DeKalb Municipal Building on 200 S. Fourth St. Participants can also call the DeKalb Fire Station at 815-748-8460 to register.
If a large enough group is participating, the fire department can accommodate by holding an on-site class.
Questions? Contact Eriksen at patrick.eriksen@cityofdekalb.com or firefighter/paramedic Noah Millard at noah.millard@cityofdekalb.com.