Life saving training at Hill City Center

Knowing CPR and how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) can be critical life-saving skills in the event of an emergency. Are you prepared?

The Hill City Center is providing the opportunity for community members to better prepare themselves for an emergency situation by hosting a CPR/AED certification course provided by the Custer Ambulance Training Department. 

When the heart stops, brain damage starts within minutes. CPR helps keep oxygen flowing to the brain and vital organs until professional help arrives.

“That’s important for everyone to understand, because CPR is the most important part,” said Mike Beilmaier of the Custer Ambulance Training Department. “If we don’t start CPR and do good CPR, the person really has no chance of surviving. So the more of us that know how to do it and do it well, the better off everybody is.”

Between 70-90 percent of cardiac arrests occur in the home. Having the proper training could potentially save someone you care about—likely a family member.

For anyone outside of the medical profession who finds themselves in a situation where they need to perform CPR, “there’s a greater than 80 percent chance it will be on someone that they love,” said Bielmaier, “your wife, your son, your grandma, your aunt—somebody that you really care about.”

Starting CPR can double or even triple a victim’s chance of surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

“Every minute that you don’t do CPR, their chance of survival goes down by at least 10 percent,” Bielmaier said. 

AEDs are also important in the case of a cardiac arrest. These devices deliver an electric shock to help restore the heart’s natural rhythm. Modern AED machines are designed for ease of use, offering clear voice prompts and visual instructions. However, hands-on training builds the confidence to act decisively and prevent hesitation in emergencies.

“There are several AEDs around the community,” said Bielmaier. “If you’re trained in how to use it, it won’t be so scary when the time comes.”

The comprehensive, four-hour course includes CPR certification, AED use and instruction in additional first-aid and emergency topics such as bleeding control, treating bee stings and administering EpiPens.

Morning and afternoon sessions will be offered Jan. 8 and Feb. 12 from 8 a.m. to noon or 1-5 p.m. The cost is $40 per person with an optional instructional booklet for an additional $8. 

For more information, or to register, call city hall at 574-2300.