Life-saving certification offered for rural areas

Over 200 hundred individuals in rural Chippewa County, can become certified with essential lifesaving skills that reduce emergency room visits and increase patient survival. That’s possible, because the Community Foundation of Chippewa County has been awarded a $26,875 grant, to bring American Red Cross First-Aid and cpr/AED provider certification, for no cost, to rural communities throughout Chippewa County.

This opportunity is awarded from the Rural Collaboration Project grant, by Compeer Financial, a Farm Credit cooperative.

“Our ultimate desired outcome, is to have healthier and safer communities throughout Chippewa County, and to assist in maintaining our rural vitality,” said Jill Herriges, executive director of the foundation This project aims to increase the number of trained first responders, in 10 rural communities in Chippewa County. Because of long travel distances to healthcare facilities from rural regions, increasing the number of certified first responders can improve the survival rate of patients.

As the area’s leading healthcare education non-profit, the Healthcare Workforce Training Institute will orchestrate over 20 trainings in Chippewa County. Their mission advances the quality and accessibility of healthcare certifications, across Wisconsin.

“With these skills, a person gains the confidence to respond in crisis situations and the ability to save a life,” said Paula Gibson, director of the institute. “It gives them peace of mind and can make a difference in the community.”

The certification satisfies non-healthcare licenses requiring CPR and AED training. The public and non-licensed healthcare professionals are also encouraged to register.

The free provider classes begin Dec. 6, 2024. Schedules are available at healthcareworkforcetraining.com.

“We see rural communities flourish, when organizations and individuals unite around a shared purpose,” said Karen Schieler, manager of corporate giving at Compeer.