City Attorney’s Office and the San Francisco Paramedic Association Conduct Lifesaving Training at Ruth Asawa School of the Arts and the Academy of Arts and Sciences
Basic Ongoing Lifesaving Training (BOLT) offers students/staff free training in CPR, AED and other emergency situations
SAN FRANCISCO (April 13, 2012)— The San Francisco City Attorney’s Office partnered with the San Francisco Paramedic Association to bring BOLT to the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts (SOTA) and the Academy of Arts and Sciences (the Academy) yesterday. BOLT offers the general public free, hands-on 90-minute trainings in basic lifesaving skills such as CPR, AED, basic first aid and emergency assessment.
Last year, City Attorney Dennis Herrera announced the Local Lifesavers initiative, an extensive citywide effort to successfully optimize community response by providing free bystander CPR/AED training, creating and maintaining a city-wide AED database, and implementing innovative mobile technology that links CPR-trained volunteers, AED maps and smartphone users in an effort to save lives in the first few minutes after cardiac arrest. Often, the fastest and most effective lifesaving response can be given by someone nearby, even before EMTs or paramedics arrive on the scene.
Yesterday’s BOLT at SOTA and the Academy trained over 60 individuals and increased the pool of trained volunteers. As a result, we hope that participants will feel more confident and empowered to act when called upon as Good Samaritan bystanders in the event of an emergency.
City Attorney Dennis Herrera wants the public to overcome two common hesitations in giving first aid.
“For medical emergencies in which every second counts, the ability to respond promptly can save lives,” Herrera said. “Unfortunately, bystanders may sometimes hesitate to respond to emergencies because they feel unprepared, or fear that they’ll be held legally responsible if their emergency aid fails. That’s why training programs like BOLT are so important—and it’s also why we must educate the public about California’s Good Samaritan Law, which protects those who provide care in the event of an emergency from civil liability.”
The California Legislature enacted the Good Samaritan Law, Health and Safety Code 1799.102, to provide that individuals who in good faith, and not for compensation, render emergency medical or nonmedical care or assistance at the scene of an emergency generally shall not be liable for any civil damages resulting from any act or omission.
For more information visit: www.LocalLifesavers.org
WHAT: Free, hands-on training in CPR, AED, and first aid offered to the general public and taught by licensed paramedics and EMTs. Intended to provide abridged and effective emergency training and improve survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest by engaging Good Samaritans in the San Francisco community.
WHEN: SOTA: Thursday, April 12, 11:00 a.m.
The Academy: Thursday, April 12, 1:45 p.m.
WHERE: Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts/Academy of Arts and Sciences Gym
555 Portola Drive (at O’Shaughnessy Blvd.)
San Francisco, CA 94131
WHO:
• Jen Drake, Deputy Director, Office of City Attorney Dennis Herrera
• Jane Smith, C.E.O., San Francisco Paramedic Association
• Daniel Mullens, EMT-P, American Medical Response
• Michael Creedon, Retired Firefighter/Paramedic, San Francisco Fire Department
• SOTA and the Academy students and staff
