Keene, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) Cheshire Medical Center (Cheshire), a member of Dartmouth Health, is encouraging residents throughout the Monadnock Region to sign up for local CPR training sessions being offered during National EMS Week as part of the statewide CPR Challenge.

The initiative brings together healthcare organizations, emergency responders and community partners across the region to increase access to CPR education and help more people gain lifesaving skills.

Multiple CPR training opportunities will be available throughout the greater Keene and Cheshire County region during EMS Week. Organizers hope strong community participation will help prepare more residents to respond confidently during cardiac emergencies.

“Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in the United States.  When sudden cardiac arrest occurs, the chances of survival decrease by 10% for every minute without CPR.  Without bystander intervention the chances of surviving are poor,” said James C. Suozzi, DO, NRP, FACEP, associate medical director of Cheshire’s emergency department. “CPR training empowers ordinary people to become lifesavers of family members, coworkers and neighbors.”

Cheshire Medical Center urges community members to register early, as organizers continue working with regional partners to expand the number of available training locations and class offerings.

“It takes a system to save a victim.  Please consider participating in a brief training in hands only CPR,” said Suozzi. “You may become a lifesaving link in the cardiac arrest chain of survival.”

Local training opportunities currently include:

  • Cheshire Medical Center – Keene – Wednesday, May 20 | noon– 2 p.m.
  • Marlow Fire Station – Marlow – Wednesday, May 20 | 6–8 p.m.
  • Walpole Historical Society – Walpole – Wednesday, May 20 | 2-4 p.m.
  • Monadnock Food Co-op – Keene – Wednesday, May 20 | 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
  • Target – Keene, NH – Wednesday, May 20 | 1-3 p.m.
  • Gilsum Fire Station – Gilsum – Thursday, May 21 | 5-7 p.m.
  • Harrisville Community Center – Harrisville – Thursday, May 21 | 4-5 p.m.
  • Cheshire Medical Center – Keene – Thursday, May 21 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
  • Dog Daze Food Truck – Walpole – Thursday, May 21 | 7–9 a.m.
  • Home Depot – Keene – Thursday, May 21 | noon– 2 p.m.
  • Cheshire Medical Center – Keene – Friday, May 22 | 10 a.m.–noon
  • Walpole Post Office – Walpole – Friday, May 22 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
  • Walpole Post Office – Walpole – Saturday, May 23 | 10–11:30 a.m.

Interested parties can view other participating locations and register for trainings through the statewide CPR Challenge website.