City Attorney’s Office and the San Francisco Paramedic Association Conduct Lifesaving Training for Staff at George Washington High School
Basic Ongoing Lifesaving Training (BOLT) offers students/staff free training in CPR, AED and other emergency situations
SAN FRANCISCO (May 10, 2012)— The San Francisco City Attorney’s Office is partnering with the San Francisco Paramedic Association to bring BOLT to George Washington High School today. 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.
Today’s BOLT at George Washington High School will train 30 students and staff members and to increase 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.
More information can be found at: www.locallifesavers.org
