Residents Spring Into Action To Save-A-Life

Hauppauge residents and local teens spend Saturday morning preparing to step forward and save a life in a medical emergency. 

The American Red Cross held Save-A-Life Saturday in  honor of Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords teaching cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency first aid at . More than 60 residents attended the event including Rep. Steve Israel, D-Huntington, one of over 100 held across the nation. 

Giffords brought national attention to the need for emergency first aid skills when she was shot in the head during an assassination attempt outside a Safeway grocery store near Tucson, Ariz. on Jan. 11. 

"The tragedy in tuscon reminded us of the importance to making sure everyone has life saving skills," said John Miller, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross's Suffolk County Chapter. 

Trainees attended the class for several different reasons. Hauppauge High School students attended to boost their health class, while a local nanny wanted to  polish up her skills after recently finding herself in a emergency situation. 

Israel recalled his shared moments with Giffords and spoke to those present about the importance of learning CPR. 

"One out of every four  people will be in a situation where CPR is necessary," Israel said, citing a Red Cross study. "It doesn’t matter of its Japan,  a congressman in Tucson or people here in Hauppauge High School. It's the best education you can have because there is nothing more important in the world and nothing more important in life than knowing how to save a life."

Israel has needed to rely on first aid skills during a medical emergency. He said once while out to dinner at a steak house with his wife, she got a piece of food lodged in her throat.

"I did not have formal training but I knew enough to do an improvised Heimlich maneuver," the representative said. "I realized then everyone should have that base line training." 

Red Cross Instructor Peter Leis led all through 30 minutes of CPR training followed by basic first aid instruction including how to handle a bleeding wound.