Old Saybrook town office locations will be closed from 2:45 to 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, for a good cause: employee training in hands-only CPR. The training comes after the employees requested the training from the Health and Safety Committee.

The Town Hall and Youth and Family Services department will be closed from 2:45 to 4 p.m. on April 6 while the staff receives training. The library and Park & Rec will have participating employees but will remain open, according to Jennifer Donahue, the town’s Director of Economic Development and Communication.

By state statute, the town’s health and safety committee must meet quarterly. According to a press release from Donahue about the upcoming training, the committee surveyed employees and found that training in first aid and CPR were the top requests of the staff.

“A couple of years ago, we revamped our Safety and Health Committee and, as part of that, for one year, we surveyed town employees quarterly on their views on various safety issues. One of the surveys focused on training,” Donahue explained to the Harbor News.

“Out of a list of 10 safety-related trainings that we surveyed employees on, first aid, CPR, and AED [Automated External Defibrillator], use was the most requested. From the feedback given in some of our meetings, since we have so many people in and out of our buildings on a daily basis, many employees want to feel prepared to help in case of a medical emergency,” she continued.

It makes sense that the staff was interested in the training. The press release stated, “According to the American Heart Association, more than 350,000 cardiac events occur each year outside hospitals. A victim’s chances for survival can double or even triple if they receive immediate assistance from a bystander who is trained to assist with hands-only CPR or the use of an AED.”

The training will take place at Old Saybrook Middle School, where the aim is for employees to learn the skills necessary to quickly help coworkers or members of the public in an emergency situation.

The release also stated that in addition to the CRP training, some employees have trained with Old Saybrook Chief of Police Michael Spera in a program called “You’re the Help Before Help Arrives.” That training teaches people what to do in various emergencies before first responders make it to the scene. Donahue said about 10 employees had taken that training and that Spera’s department had also done more CPR training in the schools.

“The town is committed to the safety and health of its employees and to a safe and healthy community. Educating employees and others so that they feel empowered to respond calmly and competently during a medical emergency by summoning professional help and then providing lifesaving assistance in the intervening minutes is something the town feels should be strongly encouraged and supported,” Donahue said.