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Washington County EMS seeks countywide CPR training recommendation with 4 LIFE awareness program
Summary
EMS Deputy Director Annette Ward asked the board to recommend county department heads and employees learn CPR as part of a seven-year 4 LIFE awareness training pilot; she offered to provide the training and said the program aims to reach 50% of residents.
Washington County’s EMS leaders told the Board of Commissioners on Nov. 6 that a seven-year 4 LIFE awareness training pilot — now two years underway — aims to expand community knowledge of CPR, EpiPen use and Narcan administration and to place AEDs in county facilities and fire apparatus.
EMS Deputy Director Annette Ward and Paramedic Katherine (Kat) Williams described the program’s goals and outreach plans. Ward said the county-wide target is to educate roughly 50% of residents over seven years and to equip county facilities and firetrucks with automated external defibrillators. When County Manager/County Attorney Curtis Potter asked, “What do you want?” Ward requested a formal recommendation that all county department heads and employees be trained in CPR and offered to provide that training.
Commissioner John C. Spruill asked whether a policy could be created requiring employee CPR training; Potter said he would consult Human Resources and include CPR and customer-service training on the next department-head meeting agenda. Chair Julius Walker asked staff to update the board on the proposal at the next meeting.
Ward emphasized the time-sensitive nature of early CPR: she told commissioners that, on average, each minute without CPR can reduce brain function by about 10 percent. The board did not take formal action on the training request during the meeting but asked staff to pursue policy and training options and report back.
The EMS presentation included an offer to bring training sessions to community groups and county departments; staff requested direction from the board on whether to proceed with a countywide training recommendation and implementation plan.
