For the first time, the American Red Cross in Madison County is offering free infant and child CPR classes. The first session is set for Feb. 7 at Mount Sterling Community Center, 164 E. Main St., Mount Sterling.
The classes are free to low-income Madison County residents who are pregnant and to low-income mothers of children 1 year old and younger. On a case-by-case basis, the Red Cross also will consider extending the free classes to fathers and to grandparents who act as primary caregivers of children 1 and under, said Executive Director Kathy Beekman.
Eligible participants must meet the following income guidelines, which represent 150 percent of the federal poverty level: one-person household, $20,400; two-person household, $27,380; three, $34,340; four, $41,300; five, $48,260.
Funding for the program comes from the United Way of Madison County. The Red Cross plans to hold three infant and child CPR classes between now and the program’s end date, June 30.
“We bundle the child and infant CPR classes together because we recognize that this information will be useful past the infant stage or for other older children in the household,” Beekman said.
According to the Red Cross Web site, www.redcross.org, participants will learn the following:
• Recognizing an Emergency—What are some unusual sights, appearances or behaviors in infants or children that can help you recognize an emergency situation?
• Protecting Yourself—What precautions can you take to minimize the risk of disease transmission when giving care?
• Check-Call-Care—Once you recognize an emergency, remain calm and follow the emergency action steps: Check-Call-Care.
• How to care for a child or infant who is choking.
• Prioritizing care—In an emergency with more than one victim, how would you determine which victim needs care first?
• Recognize and care for a child or infant who is not breathing.
• Care for cardiac emergencies.
Participants who complete the class will receive Red Cross certification in child and infant CPR.
To sign up for the Feb. 7 class or find out more about eligibility requirements, contact Kathy Beekman at the Red Cross, 740-845-9939. The Red Cross office is located at 21 W. Fifth St. in London.
The infant and child CPR classes are open to everyone. For those who do not qualify for the fee waiver, the cost of the class is $35.
