Tara residents armed with life-saving knowledge

Nearly 30 Tara residents attended a seminar at the Golf and Country Club Feb. 25 to learn how to potentially save a life.

The 90-minute class was designed to teach the basics of CPR and how to operate an automated external defibrillator, or AED, a portable device that can help restart a person's heart if it suddenly stops. 

The class, organized by the Tara Golf and Country Club social committee, was prompted after a club member recently experienced a medical emergency on the driving range. 

The class instructor, Ruth Landes, has been an emergency medical technician since 1995. She, along with her husband Rick Landes, owns Landes Emergency Training Services, which offers a variety of instruction, including first-aid, active shooter training, live fire extinguisher training and more.

The participants had a number of reasons why they chose to attend. Some have taken a class before and needed a refresher. Others said they have new grandchildren and wanted to be prepared for a visit.

For some, a close call spurred them to action.

“My husband, just two weeks ago, had a cardiac issue,” said Susan Groover. “I want to have the tools to help him myself.”

Landes shared her own professional experiences, along with course material, to give practical advice to these potential lifesavers.

Photo by Jim DeLa

One common fear people have, she said, was being sued if they try to help but fail.

Legislation in nearly every state, called Good Samaritan laws, protect people volunteering to give aid in emergencies. 

Under the Florida Good Samaritan Act, “Any person, including those licensed to practice medicine, who gratuitously and in good faith renders emergency care or treatment… shall not be held liable for any civil damages as a result of such care or treatment.” 

“You’re covered,” she said, with one caveat: If you start CPR on an unresponsive person, you must continue until someone else, either first responders or another civilian, can take over.

After some basic instruction, participants knelt on the floor next to special mannequins. Electronics inside the mannequins measured the depth, speed and rhythm of the chest compressions. 

The proper cadence, Landes said, is between 100-120 compressions a minute. That, coincidentally, is the same beat as “Stayin’ Alive,” the Bee Gees disco tune.

Photo by Jim DeLa

Giving chest compressions looks easy — until you do it for a couple of minutes. “Holy cow,” Groover said after two minutes. “You’re not kidding,” quipped Leo Eineker, who was working on another mannequin. 

Eineker was trained in CPR on the job years ago. “Then I was young, so doing that stuff was very easy,” he said.

“The one thing that threw me was, we would be a team, OK, you go two minutes, and then I go two minutes,” for two or three rounds. “Oh, my goodness, I was exhausted.”

Landes also provided a short demonstration of an AED, which can give a victim an electric shock to restart their heart in case of cardiac arrest. 

The small portable machines are designed to be used by nonprofessionals. At the touch of a single button, the device gives audible instructions on exactly what to do and when. “Turn it on and listen,” Landes said. 

After placing adhesive pads on a victim, the device checks for any heart activity. Landes demonstrated on a mannequin. “A shock is advised,” the device boomed. “Stand clear and push the red button.” 

The device can deliver several potential life-saving shocks before first responders arrive.

There are five AEDs in various locations at the Tara County Club. Landes also demonstrated a phone app, PulsePoint AED, which will let a user know where the nearest known AED is to their location, anywhere in the U.S.

After the class, the participants said it was well worth the time.

“You learn something new every time,” Eineker said. “Now I know who I want to play golf with,” as he looked around the room. 

“I think it was definitely worth it,” Groover said. “I had a CPR certificate in my 20s, probably when I had young children. 

“This was a great refresher, and also it really helped me to learn how deep the compressions need to be. I think prior to this class, my compressions would have been way too shallow.”