The American Red Cross will teach a full day of life-saving emergency training Saturday, July 26, at the First United Methodist Church in Johnson City.

The training will include Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) for adults, children and infants, first aid and the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). Graduates of the class will receive ARC certification in all those areas.

"CPR is what most people want, and it makes good sense to have as many of us trained as possible," said Martha Mason of Blanco, one of the instructors. "The fact is that one of these days , almost any one of us could suffer an accident or attack that would cause our heart to stop suddenly, and the more people around who know how to keep the blood moving, the better."

That's essential because the medical experts say when the heart stops pumping blood, your brain cells begin dying -- about 10% of them every minute. If it takes 10 minutes for medical help to arrive, it may mean the patient may never recover from the incident.

"But a spouse or neighbor or co-worker who knows CPR and can begin work immediately may turn that devastating incident into one from which the patient can make a full recovery," Mason explained. "It's just a matter of knowing how."

Many of us assume we already know first aid because we learned it in scouts or the military. But the experts' recommendations change over time (what's the current recommendation on tourniquets?) and so do our memories (do you elevate the feet or head for shock?).

And misinformation creeps into our knowledge. An amazing number of people think an electrocution victim retains an electrical charge and is hazardous to touch.

"The greatest life-saving device to come along in decades is the AED," declared instructor Kim Porter. "AEDs literally can re-start an out-of- control heart, and they're almost fool-proof to use. If you can work a pre-schooler's electric game, you can save a life with an AED."

As AEDs become more common -- appearing now in most schools, government buildings and increasing numbers of businesses -- so are the chances you can save a life with one. But first, you have to learn how.

The training is suitable for individuals, families, employee groups and clubs who want to expand the number of people in the community able to deliver life-saving care in an emergency.

The Red Cross charge for the full day of training is $45, plus $5 for lunch. To register yourself or your group, call JoAnn at 868-7414.