Hospital teams up with Make A Splash to teach CPR | Health

(WMC-TV) - Swimming season can be fun, but it can also be a very dangerous time of year.

Officials at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital say they treat about 40 kids a year who drown or almost drown.

To help prevent more tragedies from happening, the hospital is teaming up with Make A Splash Mid-South, a group that promotes swimming education, to teach CPR training classes this weekend.

“As the swimming pools open for the summer, we want to remind parents how important it is to do a few simple things to protect children," said Susan Helms, director of injury prevention and Safe Kids Mid-South at Le Bonheur. "The first is to learn CPR. It can truly save a life. The second is to designate a water watcher. Make sure someone always has their eyes on the children."

The classes will be led by firefighters from Memphis and Bartlett and by volunteers from the University of Tennessee College of Pharmacy and Methodist Healthcare.

One-hour CPR training classes will be held in Rash Hall at Christ Methodist Church, 4488 Poplar Ave. Classes will be offered at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on August 4.

To register, email CPR@makeasplashmidsouth.org or call. 901-287-5992.

Organizers say students should dress comfortably and bring a towel or something else to kneel on.

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