A deep rescue breath to potentially save a life. The group of mostly young people gathered Saturday to take part in a free CPR training in Brooklyn.

“We have a bunch of kids and parents here and we’re trying to teach them something as simple as coronary-pulmonary recitation,” Andrew Bershad, CEO and founder of Flying Aces Enterprises and Consulting.

Simply put, if someone has a heart attack, Bershad hopes the skills learned here will put trainees in control. Yet not only to seek professional help, but to give potentially lifesaving intervention before aid arrives.

What You Need To Know

  • One group is putting the ability to help save a life in the hands of more young people with free CPR trainings

  • The group of about 15 young people, ranging in age from 12 to 16, each took turns performing CPR and using automated external defibrillators

  • At the end of the training, some of the students walked away certified in CPR

  • Organizers hope this initiative will encourage more young people to learn these lifesaving skills

“Sadly, we’ve had stories coming up where even at youth events, athletic events both professionally like you had in Buffalo at a professional arena where there’s at least training there but it made the difference in saving an athletes life,” said Bershad, who has over 40 years of experience as a paramedic and is a former NYPD officer.

The group of about 15 young people, ranging in age from 12 to 16 years old, each took turns performing CPR chest compressions and using automated external defibrillators, which are used to restore the heartbeat of someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest.

For 14-year-old Erick Correa, this hits really close to home.

“My uncle’s cousin kind of went into cardiac arrest and passed away sadly,” Correa shared. “My mom was just like, ‘Let’s make sure that never happens again.’”

Twelve-year-old Mayson Cruz also attended the training with his siblings.

“I feel like it’s been good, I like doing it and stuff, it was kind of nerve-wracking but you know,” said Cruz.

Trained instructors praising the group of volunteers gathered for their attentiveness through step-by-step instruction, noting this is the example that needs to be set for the broader community.

“Just giving back to the family that someone there knows what to do or stayed in control you hear so many stories where the 3-year-old or the 4-year-old stayed and comforted mom and called 911, I think that’s something that needs to be learned early and only continues to grow,” said Bershad.

At the end of the training, some students walked away certified in CPR.

Organizers hope this initiative will encourage more young people to learn these lifesaving skills.

The group plans to host these classes monthly.