Texas Border Business
By Joey Gomez
McALLEN, Texas – South Texas College Continuing Education and Workforce Development is bringing its free lifesaving CPR training back this fall with additional American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support (BLS) courses.
Funded through a $100,000 grant from Texas Mutual Insurance Company, the four-hour courses are open to STC students and anyone in the community seeking the skills and confidence to respond during an emergency.
Courses are set for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays throughout September and October at STC’s Continuing Education Training Center at Pecan Plaza located at 2501 Pecan Blvd. in McAllen.
Each class is limited to 10 participants.
Scheduled dates begin Sept.17-19, Sept. 24-26, Oct. 1-3, Oct. 8-10 and Oct. 16-17. Additional dates for November and December will be announced soon.
“The response over the summer was tremendous and our classes continue to fill quickly,” said Xenia Munoz, Continuing Education program developer and coordinator. “Although Basic Life Support is designed primarily for healthcare professionals and emergency responders, this opportunity is open to anyone who wants to become certified.”
BLS training prepares participants to respond to cardiac and respiratory arrest involving adults, children and infants in both community and hospital settings. Participants also learn CPR, choking lifesaving techniques and how to work as a team with other medical professionals during an emergency.
The certification is often required for students entering health-related programs, including nursing and occupational therapy. Munoz said many STC students have taken advantage of the free training to fulfill program requirements while developing skills that can also protect their families and communities.
Participants who successfully complete the course will receive an AHA Basic Life Support certification.
“It’s really important for our community to have this type of skills because you never know what can happen,” Munoz said. “If you are certified, you can step in when help is needed and potentially save a life.”
For more information or to register, visit southtexascollege.edu/cpit/courses/industry/health-care/.
