Desfibrilador y Primeros Auxilios – Lopez Island features CPR class in Spanish

In winter 2023, Lopez Island Family Resource Center (LIFRC), United General #304, and La Cima Lopez hosted a Spanish language CPR/AED/First Aid training on Lopez Island.

The Hispanic community on Lopez Island shared with Karina E. Cerda Aguirre, who works with LIFRC, that there was a great need to have this type of knowledge, due to events that had occurred.

“This course was a great success since all the people who took it here on López are very happy and grateful since some of them wanted to have it before, due to their own incidents, family or friends, and having taken it gave them great security and confidence,” Karina shared. “We believe that these courses make all of us and our community stronger!”

After obtaining support from the Lopez Island Family Resource Center, organizers wanted to include the La Cima youth leaders since they speak both languages, and because they showed great interest in taking the course and helping people too. Gabe Evenson of United General #304 was the instructor.

Most Hispanic families on Lopez could not take other CPR classes, due to lack of 100% understanding of the English language, but if it were offered in Spanish, they would be happy to participate and learn important skills to keep our community safe and healthy. It also provided confidence and empowerment to Hispanics knowing that they are included in this type of opportunity.

LIFRC hopes to offer another class on Lopez, and involve people from other San Juan Islands.  They hope that someone on Lopez will become a certified CPR trainer in Spanish so more people can be trained.  And that they will have bi-lingual, bi-cultural, Spanish speaking community members work for Lopez EMS someday.

Karina added her thanks to North Sound ACH and our network of partners. “Without your help, we cannot carry out many of our projects with the Latino community of Lopez.”