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A.C.T. To Save a Life: New 1-hour first aid class teaches 3 lifesaving skills
Post Date:08/08/2018
South County Fire is introducing A.C.T., a new approach to first aid training for our community. We know they can save more lives if they teach more people the first aid skills they need to act during the crucial few minutes before firefighters arrive. We also know not everyone has time to take a day-long certification class to learn those skills.
That’s why South County Fire came up with A.C.T. to prepare communities to respond to the threats any of us might encounter in modern society. Training usually takes less than an hour and focuses on three first aid skills that can make a big difference in the first five minutes of a life-threatening emergency:
Antidote for suspected opiate overdose
Most people hear the word opiate and think of street drugs like heroin, but it also includes many painkillers prescribed after surgery or injury. Opiate overdose is the leading cause of death for people under 50. A.C.T. teaches you how to administer an antidote nasal spray available without a prescription at many local pharmacies.
CPR and AED for sudden cardiac arrest
CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator) are both used to treat sudden cardiac arrest, the leading cause of death in the United States. AEDs are located in many public gathering places and can be easily and safely used to administer a shock to restore heart beat rhythm. CPR and AED use in the first few minutes of sudden cardiac arrest can greatly increase the odds of survival.
Tourniquet for bleeding control
Severe bleeding is the leading cause of death in earthquakes, terror attacks and mass shootings. Applying a tourniquet to an arm or leg injury or packing a torso wound in the first five minutes can be lifesaving.
People may not like to think about the possibility of these things happening in their community or to loved ones, but if they do occur, A.C.T. will have prepared you to take action to save a life.
Online registration is available for monthly A.C.T. classes. Training is also being offered at community events and fire department open houses.
South County Fire’s goal is to prepare not just individuals, but the entire community, to be ready to act. The department is working on securing grant funding to accelerate and expand the delivery of A.C.T. training throughout our service area.
South County Fire is the largest provider of fire and emergency medical services in Snohomish County, serving 250,000 residents in unincorporated communities and the cities of Brier, Edmonds, Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace.
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Return to full list >>That’s why South County Fire came up with A.C.T. to prepare communities to respond to the threats any of us might encounter in modern society. Training usually takes less than an hour and focuses on three first aid skills that can make a big difference in the first five minutes of a life-threatening emergency:
Most people hear the word opiate and think of street drugs like heroin, but it also includes many painkillers prescribed after surgery or injury. Opiate overdose is the leading cause of death for people under 50. A.C.T. teaches you how to administer an antidote nasal spray available without a prescription at many local pharmacies.
CPR and AED for sudden cardiac arrest
Tourniquet for bleeding control
Severe bleeding is the leading cause of death in earthquakes, terror attacks and mass shootings. Applying a tourniquet to an arm or leg injury or packing a torso wound in the first five minutes can be lifesaving.
People may not like to think about the possibility of these things happening in their community or to loved ones, but if they do occur, A.C.T. will have prepared you to take action to save a life.
Online registration is available for monthly A.C.T. classes. Training is also being offered at community events and fire department open houses.
South County Fire’s goal is to prepare not just individuals, but the entire community, to be ready to act. The department is working on securing grant funding to accelerate and expand the delivery of A.C.T. training throughout our service area.
South County Fire is the largest provider of fire and emergency medical services in Snohomish County, serving 250,000 residents in unincorporated communities and the cities of Brier, Edmonds, Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace.
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