It’s February, which means it’s American Heart Month — a time designated since 1964 to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease. Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States, and outreach during American Heart Month revolves around encouraging healthy diet, exercise, and blood pressure maintenance, but also around raising awareness of what to do in case of a cardiac emergency.
In that vein, multiple branches of the Mercer County Library host free programs offered this month to teach members of the public how to perform CPR on adults, children, and infants. The courses are for “family and friends,” designed for those who want to learn the basics without requiring formal certification.
Registration is required for all courses by visiting events.mcl.org or by calling the branch offering the class.
The schedule is as follows:
The American Heart Association’s “Family & Friends CPR for Infants” takes place Monday, February 9, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Hickory Corner Branch, 138 Hickory Corner Road, East Windsor. The courses teaches cardiopulmonary resuscitation and treatment for choking in those under 1 year of age.
Immediately following the program addressing infant treatment is “Family & Friends CPR for Adults & Children” from 7 to 8 p.m. The course covers CPR for children and adults over the age of 1. Call 609-448-1330 for more information.
The Lawrence Headquarters Branch at 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrence, offers CPR for infants on Tuesday, February 10, from 6 to 6:45 p.m. and CPR for adults and children the same evening from 7 to 8 p.m. These programs are provided by Penn Medicine Princeton Health. Call 609-883-8292 to register or for more information.
CPR for Adults and Children, facilitated by Penn Medicine Princeton Health, takes place Wednesday, February 11, at 6:30 p.m., at the Robbinsville Branch, 42 Robbinsville-Allentown Road, Robbinsville, and includes hands-on work with mannequins. Call 609-259-2150 to register or for more information.
Family & Friends CPR comes to the Hightstown Memorial Branch, 114 Franklin Street, Hightstown, on Saturday, February 14. The program for adults and child CPR starts at 1 p.m. and the program for infant CPR follows at 2 p.m. Call 609-448-1474 for more information or to register.
In addition to the programs offered through the Mercer County Library System, Penn Medicine Princeton Health is running CPR programs at other libraries and community venues. The schedule includes:
Adult and Child CPR at the South Brunswick Public Library, 110 Kingston Lane, Monmouth Junction, takes place Friday, February 6, from 1 to 2 p.m.
At the Hamilton Area YMCA John K. Rafferty Branch, 1315 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road, Hamilton, Adult and Child CPR runs Saturday, February 7, from 9 to 10 a.m. followed by Infant CPR from 10 to 11 a.m.
Training in Adult and Child CPR is available at the Cranbury Library, 30 Park Place West, Cranbury, Tuesday, February 10, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. A program on Infant CPR takes place the same day from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
CPR for infants — under 1 year of age — only takes place at Delaware Valley Pediatrics Lawrenceville, 132 Franklin Corner Road, Lawrenceville, on Tuesday, February 10, from 5 to 6 p.m.
CPR for adults and children comes to Community Wellness, 731 Alexander Road, Suite 103, West Windsor, on Wednesday, February 11, from 6 to 7 p.m.
The John O. Wilson Center at 169 Wilfred Avenue, Hamilton, offers adult and child CPR on Tuesday, February 17, from 6 to 7 p.m. Register directly with the center by calling 609-393-6480.
On Wednesday, February 18, learn adult and child CPR from 6 to 7 p.m. followed by infant CPR from 7 to 8 p.m. at Hamilton Public Library, 1 Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. Way, Hamilton.
Learn adult and child CPR at Montgomery Evangelical Free Church, 246 Belle Mead-Griggstown Road, Belle Mead, on Saturday, February 21, from 10 to 11 a.m. or at Somerset County Library System Montgomery Branch, 100 Community Drive, Skillman, from 3 to 4 p.m.
Unless otherwise noted, registration for all Penn Medicine events is online at pennmedicine.trumba.com/princeton-health.
For more formal training, including certification in CPR, automated external defibrillator (AED) use, and first aid, visit the American Red Cross website at redcross.org.
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