Health First 5K and CPR Day Is A Home Run
By Space Coast Daily // June 10, 2013
Record crowd of MORE THAN 5,000 people
ABOVE VIDEO: David Schmitt of Health First’s Training Center explains what the CPR Day is about and how Health First’s Training Center serves the Brevard County community.
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BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA — Health First’s 5th Annual CPR Day and 5K Run attracted a record crowd of over 5,000 people to Space Coast Stadium.
“This has been a tremendous turnout and we are very pleased that there are so many people here who will receive the CPR training and enjoy the fun here at Space Coast Stadium,” said David Schmitt, Health First Training Center Director, who first created the event five years ago.
“People really want this training and thanks to the awesome Health First volunteers here today, our citizens will be able to receive it. At the Heath First Training Center, we have around 90 instructors who annually provide around 3,000 CPR (Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation) training events for health care providers and an additional 4,000 training events for doctors, nurses and paramedics who receive advanced cardiac life support training.”
‘A GREAT EVENT FOR OUR FAMILY’
The event was free for the public and included free t-shirts for all participants, a certificate of CPR “Friends & Family” training completion, heart healthy physician lectures, Zumba demonstrations cooking demonstrations and a First Flight Helicopter landing demonstration.
Viera’s Pizza Gallery and Edible Art Catering provided healthy foods for people to sample.
“This has been a lot of fun and now we know how to give CPR,” said Shannon Harden who attended with his younger brother Jacquez Harden and his friend Isabelle Morales. “This is awesome,” said Morales.
Participant mom from Melbourne, Nicole Tackett greatly enjoyed the event. “This is a great event for our family and we appreciate the opportunity to be here together,” said Tackett.
The Caple family all attended and participated in the 5K. “This is a great activity and we are glad to be here,” said Jim Caple.
The event kicked off with the 5K run, followed by the CPR training, which took place in the outfield of the major league stadium. The giant video screen in center field showed a brief CPR training film to the almost three thousand trainees who then proceeded to practice CPR on mannequins. Over 100 volunteer trainers provided tips on how best to provide CPR.
“This has been a lot of fun and now we know how to give CPR,” said Shannon Harden who attended with his younger brother Jacquez Harden and his friend Isabelle Morales. “This is awesome,” said Morales.
RUNNING ZONE VOLUNTEERS
The Running Zone retail stores, with owner Denise Piercy, who annually organizes over fifty community running events in Brevard, volunteered along with her staff to supervise the 5K “It was amazing and we had such a good turnout,” said Piercy.
“We saw a lot of new people out there today and a large and diverse crowd. Getting people moving really makes us happy.”
ABOVE VIDEO: Denise Piercy of the Running Zone, explains what inspires her to volunteer to organize over 50 running events each year for Brevard County.
Shana Dolly, along with her friends Sean Bradford and Desiree Rodriguez greatly enjoyed the 5K. “We had fun,” said Dolly. “This is an awesome way to spend a Saturday morning.”
Gary Castner and Matt Mahoney of Melbourne also joined in the 5K and were chatting in the stadium, just before the CPR training began. Learning CPR is an important thing” said Castner. “I’m sure lots of people will be helped as a result of this,” said Mahoney.
Gary Castner and Matt Mahoney of Melbourne also joined in the 5K and were chatting in the stadium, just before the CPR training began. Learning CPR is an important thing” said Castner. “I’m sure lots of people will be helped as a result of this,” said Mahoney.
Martin McKinney and Brevard Community College nursing students, Holly West and Brittany O’Connor, volunteered down on the field, to help people with the CPR training. “We are pleased to be a part of this,” said West.
The Shear family from Rockledge, were all down on the field, to receive their CPR training. Sharon Shear enjoyed chatting with Health First CEO Steve Johnson and was very impressed with the event.
“Getting our family all exposed to CPR training is so great. You never know when you might need it, said Shear.
“Learning CPR and how to survive a heart attack is just as important as preventing a heart attack,” said Health First Medical Group Cardiologist Dr. Cesar Jara. “At Health First, we help provide the tools the community needs to do both.”
Healthy and happy Jack and Dorey Dunlap joined in the 5K with their son Jordan and were pleased to be at the stadium.
“I go to the Health First ‘s Pro Health to stay fit,” said Jordan Dunlap. “It’s my good cooking that also keeps them young,” joked Dorey Dunlap.
ABOVE VIDEO: The Dunlap family of Brevard County enjoyed the CPR Day and explain how they stay healthy and active as a family.
First Flight Paramedic, John Hartley was on board the sleek helicopter as it landed outside the stadium on the AAA baseball field. “Great turnout,” said Hartley. “We had long lines to see the chopper and it’s always a pleasure to let people see it.”
Many of the 7,500 Health First employees who work in Brevard, volunteered at the event, to help welcome and organize the people attending.
“We are having a lot of fun and we feel very good about what we are doing with this event,” said Gina Kent of Health First.
CLICK HERE for more information about Health First.
