'It Helps Save Lives': CPR Classes Teach Life-Saving Skill To Oklahomans

Knowing CPR can help save a life when seconds count.

A training session Saturday taught more people how to react during an emergency.

It takes about eight minutes for someone experiencing cardiac arrest to have their life impacted severely or worse, death.

The Oklahoma Pastors and Ministers Association wants more people to know CPR. Carolyn Ingram says it could be the difference between life and death.

"We know that it's vital that anytime a group of people are together someone needs to know how to successfully perform CPR, it helps save lives," Ingram said.

The organization started hosting these classes as part of an initiative to spread the word about the dangers of fentanyl and any other drugs that can cause harm to people. The Oklahoma State Department of Health says Tulsa County is one of the top five counties struggling with opioid and fentanyl overdose deaths.

"I've known other churches or other places that people did take fentanyl or some harmful drug and then they had to be revived, and all we know to do is to call EMSA, but we need something in place before EMSA gets there," Ingram said.

Tulsa Fire Department Captain Paramedic, Conrad Collinson, says knowing CPR can buy a person some time until professional help arrives.

"If someone is experiencing an opioid overdose typically depending on the severity of the overdose they might go into cardiac arrest," Collinson said.

He's encouraged that churches are leading this important initiative.

"CPR has been shown to be very beneficial. The sooner it's started and if it's quality CPR it has a higher impact on that person's chance of survival than not doing anything at all," Collinson said.

Ingram says it’s about making a positive impact in the community.

"We want people to be aware that we are here as a group of people, as pastors, ministers, and as church members for people who need help," Ingram said.