'It saves lives.' Armonk Fire Department offers free CPR classes

For the past five years, EMT Capt. Julie Gallagher has offered a free CPR class at the Armonk Fire House once a month to anyone and everyone.

News 12 Staff

Mar 3, 2023, 3:52 AM

Updated 554 days ago

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The Armonk Fire Department is offering a free class on a vital lifesaving skill that has made headlines in recent times.
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin became a household name back in January when the 24-year-old collapsed on the football field due to cardiac arrest.
First responders ran towards him and administered CPR to save his life as the world watched.
“The first responders recognized that he was in cardiac arrest, initiated cardiac measures, CPR immediately and had access to a defibrillator on the field. That’s what saved him and lead to the good outcome that he’s had," says Armonk Fire Department EMT Capt. Julie Gallagher. “No brain damage, no residual deficits, everything’s intact.”
“It’s amazing. It’s one of the most important things that you can know how to do is how to recognize someone is in cardiac arrest and start treatment right away,” Gallagher adds.
For the past five years, Gallagher has offered a free CPR class at the Armonk Fire House once a month to anyone and everyone.
“You come and give me two hours and I’m going to teach you a lifesaving skill," she says.
“We learn proper compressions, if someone’s choking, how to get the object out of the body, how to use an AED," explains the fire department's Richard Greenwald.
"My goal was to train every adult in our town on how to perform CPR if needed. It’s just such a vital skill and it saves lives,” Gallagher says.