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Free CPR classes begin Feb. 8 at Driscoll Children's Hospital

Free CPR classes at Driscoll Children's Hospital
Posted at 1:33 PM, Jan 29, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-29 14:33:57-05

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — If someone's heart stopped, would you be able to help keep them alive?

The Family and Friends CPR class at Driscoll Children's Hospital is making sure that answer is yes.

According to the American Heart Association, 350,000 Americans are affected by cardiac arrest every year. But according to Colleen Eaves, the founder of the program, many times bystanders do not step in when someone around them enters cardiac arrest because of lack of confidence.

"They're afraid they're going to hurt them, they're afraid they're going to do it wrong, they're afraid they're going to get sued," said Eaves, who works as a registered nurse at the hospital.

Survival chances can be nearly tripled when a bystander, trained or untrained, performs CPR.

The Texas Good Samaritan law protects anyone who steps in to help from liability.

Eaves says that after taking her class, 90 percent of her students said they would perform CPR if the situation arose.

Beginning on Feb. 8, classes will be available once a month.

For more information, check out Driscoll’s website here.