Red Cross CPR Training Saves Life at Tequesta Country Club

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (September 29, 2009) — Cheryl Tagner of Port St. Lucie, 49, received Adult, Child & Infant CPR and Choking training from the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross in 2007, but it wasn’t until the evening of September 25th at Tequesta Country Club when her life saving skills were called to action. Tagner, who is Clubhouse Manager at the Country Club, first became alerted to the incident by one of her staff members who thought that an 89 year old female member of the country club and resident of Tequesta, looked like she needed help. The club member’s husband, who is 90, took one look at Tagner and asked, “Can you help?” Tagner immediately performed three abdominal thrusts on the victim until a piece of steak that had been lodged in her throat was cleared.

Mark Badertscher, General Manager of the Tequesta Country Club, placed a call to the Red Cross to notify the organization of Tagner’s honorable act. He explained “We have older members of the club and they can feel safe and confident in knowing that our staff is trained in CPR from the American Red Cross.” Badertscher has each of his eight department heads receive Adult, Child & Infant CPR and Choking training on a two year, rotational basis in case of potentially deadly situations like this one. Choking is a breathing emergency that can quickly lead to death if appropriate, immediate care is not administered.

Linda Olson, Director of Safety Education for the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter, emphasized the importance of receiving Red Cross safety education. Olson said, “American Red Cross safety training provides everyday people with the skills and confidence to respond quickly and effectively to an emergency.” She continued “Red Cross training can mean the difference between life and death.” The local Red Cross offers CPR/AED courses regularly and during weekdays, evenings and weekends for both professional rescuers and the citizen responder. Training can be done at any location, and even through a blended learning approach, using online training for the knowledge portion and a minimal classroom session to reinforce learning and afford hands-on skill practice. In these courses, Red Cross certified instructors also teach participants how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED), an electronic device that is a critical step in cardiac emergencies. A Red Cross CPR and AED certification meets the standards for Emergency Cardiac Care and Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations.

Cheryl Tagner will be nominated for the American Red Cross Certificate of Merit, awarded to people that use Red Cross training in an emergency situation. Of her lifesaving work, Tagner bashfully stated, “It’s not really that big of a deal. I just did what I was taught to do.” If you’d like to receive Red Cross safety education, please call (561) 650-9115 or view our training schedule and enroll online by visiting www.redcross-pbc.org.

Media opportunity to attend a Red Cross safety education class is always welcome and appreciated! Call Brittany Jo Miller, Press Assistant, for details at (561) 718-3527.

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About the Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter of the American Red Cross: For over 90 years, the American Red Cross Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter, which includes Glades, Hendry, Okeechobee and Palm Beach counties, has provided relief to victims of disasters at home and abroad, taught lifesaving skills, and supported military members and their families. The American Red Cross, a charity and not a government agency, depends on voluntary contributions of time and money to perform its humanitarian mission. To learn more about the work of the Red Cross in communities, or to make a donation, please call 561-833-7711 or visit our website at www.redcross-pbc.org.