Help Clackamas Fire Reach 50K CPR-Trained Civilians

HAPPY VALLEY, OR — Hands-only CPR trainers often use the Bee Gees' 1977 hit "Stayin' Alive" to help learning emergency responders keep pace with their chest compressions. While the Bee Gees won't be available to perform in Happy Valley next week, Clackamas Fire District #1 will use music nevertheless to bring in new CPR trainees at the Aug. 23 Concerts in the Valley performance, which incidentally will feature a band whose members are all local firefighters.

Clackamas Fire District #1 since 2014 has been working toward its goal of seeing 50,000 Clackamas County community members trained in hands-only CPR. Next Thursday around 7:30 p.m. Clackamas Fire officials plans to complete that mission by training 500 people at once during the intermission of The District's performance at Happy Valley Park, 13770 S.E. Ridgecrest Rd.

The District — the band, not the fire agency — is described as a high energy group of local firefighters who like to both serve and entertain their community. The band will reportedly play covers of classics from the '80s, '90s, and disco era — perhaps even "Stayin' Alive" — as well as modern Top 40 hits.

Hands-only CPR, according to fire authorities, can more than double the chances of survival for someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. By training more civilians on hands-only CPR, the fire district hopes to increase the likelihood of survival for anyone who suffers cardiac arrest in the county.

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For more information on the Concerts in the Valley series, visit the community events page at HappyValleyOR.gov.

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