On March 29 EQT and the American Heart Association gathered to celebrate the “Have a Heart, Save a Life” CPR student training program which was implemented to seventh graders at Paden City High School by Physical Education Teacher Fred King.

This is the fourth year that EQT and the AHA have partnered for this CPR training program designed to give anyone the skills to be a lifesaver. The Family and Friends CPR Anytime is a revolutionary concept of teaching the core skills of CPR using a unique practice-while-learning instruction method. Students and others practice skills on a personal mannequin while watching these skills on an interactive DVD. The core skills can be learned in just 22 minutes. And because the kits are designed to be shared, they can be passed to friends and family. Each student will receive a take-home personal kit making it convenient to teach others and refresh CPR skills often.

Nearly 88 percent of all sudden cardiac arrests occur at home and are witnessed by a family member or loved one, said AHA Community CPR Manager Joseph Laskowski during his presentation to PCHS. Furthermore, he explained that less than five percent of sudden cardiac arrest victims survive because the majority of bystanders do not know how to perform CPR. However, victims that do receive effective CPR from a bystander are twice as likely to survive.

According to an AHA press release, a study conducted by the late Dr. Peter J. Safar (known as the father of CPR) proved that seventh graders not only have the best retention rate for training, they also represent the optimal age to share information with their families and friends.

To this end, PCHS Principal Jason Salva addressed the students, instilling how important it is to learn CPR skills. “I challenge you to train at least five people you know,” he implored. “The more who know, the more lives that can be saved.”

County Commissioner Scott Lemley also spoke to the students, saying, “I encourage you to continue to educate yourself on heart disease” and to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Other public figures in attendance for this special presentation included Paden City Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Captain Charles Racer, Paden City Police Chief Michael Owens, and Paden City Mayor Bill Fox.

Following the presentation select students demonstrated the hands only version of CPR for those present using their personal inflatable mannequin provided in their CPR Anytime kits. The kits include the mannequin as well as an instructional DVD, disinfectant wipes, and pocket instructions for easy referral in the case of an emergency.

EQT’s Have a Heart, Save a Life program has trained more than three thousand students in West Virginia since 2010, with an additional 12 thousand family members and friends trained. “Safety is our top priority at EQT,” said Natalie Cox, EQT’s corporate director of communications. “All of our field employees and contractors know how to perform CPR and won’t hesitate to use that knowledge when a member of our community is in need. The opportunity to share these life-saving skills with local students, families, friends and neighbors is a natural extension of our commitment to safety.”

It is reported that people who learn CPR by watching a video demonstration, even for a brief time are more likely to attempt CPR and perform better quality CPR in an emergency situation. In addition, research shows that bystander CPR can double-even triple survival and is easier for lay rescuers to learn, remember and perform CPR; and ultimately save lives.

EQT Corporation is an integrated energy company with emphasis on Appalachian area natural gas production, gathering, transmission, and distribution. With more than 120 years of experience, EQT is a technology-driven leader in the integration of air and horizontal drilling. Through safe and responsible operations, the Company is committed to meeting the country’s growing demand for clean-burning energy, while continuing to provide a rewarding workplace and enrich the communities where its employees live and work. Company shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange as EQT. Visit EQT Corporation online at www.EQT.com.

The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke America’s No. 1 and No. 4 killers. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country.