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Back by popular demand: Community CPR Day

MVP Health Care and Albany County, through the Innovation Partnership, once again make American Heart Association Hands-Only CPR training available to community.

Since the American Heart Association began its Nation of Lifesavers campaign to train people in Hands-Only CPR, more than 17 million people have learned this lifesaving skill.

“Knowing Hands-Only CPR can mean the difference between life and death,” said Daniel P. McCoy, Albany County executive. “Albany County has worked on CPR training with the American Heart Association for 15 years, and we are proud to again offer this free community training. I urge everyone to take half an hour to come to the MVP Arena and learn Hands-Only CPR.”

The next Community CPR Day is set for Sunday, April 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the MVP Arena, 51 S. Pearl St., in Albany. Local trainers will provide Hands-Only CPR instruction in 30-minute time slots for groups of 10 to 20, providing personalized instruction.

“Empowering our communities with the knowledge to save a life is at the heart of MVP Health Care’s mission,” said Augusta Martin, chief market strategy and product officer at MVP Health Care. “Hands-Only CPR is a simple skill that can have an extraordinary impact, and every person who learns it strengthens the health and safety of our region. We’re proud to once again work with Albany County and the American Heart Association to bring this training to our neighbors and we encourage everyone to take just 30 minutes to learn how to make a lifesaving difference.”

The Innovation Partnership, a collaboration between Albany County and MVP Health Care, helped build this initiative locally by sponsoring a Community CPR Day in September 2024. The success of the day and the continuing need for CPR is reuniting the American Heart Association and the Innovation Partnership to present a second training.

“We’re making progress with Hands-Only CPR training, but the need is still urgent,” said Michael-Aaron Poindexter, chair of the American Heart Association Board and chief program officer of the Regional Food Bank. “More than 350,000 people suffer sudden cardiac arrest each year, and most of these occurrences happen outside the home. That means YOU are often the first responder until help arrives. We’re grateful that the Innovation Partnership between Albany County and MVP Health Care is helping the Heart Association create more people ready to respond until professionals arrive. I urge everyone to make time to learn Hands-Only CPR on April 19.”
A limited number of CPR & First Aid Youth Sports Training Kits will be given away to Albany County youth sports teams. Teams can apply for the kits here. The kits contain mannikins, kneepads and training materials to teach Hands-Only CPR.

To sign up for a half-hour slot to learn Hands-Only CPR on April 19, visit www.heart.org/cpr518.