Tanner Health System is offering area families a chance to learn the fundamentals of saving a life with free CPR training at two convenient locations on May 28 in Carrollton and Villa Rica.

CPR — or cardiopulmonary resuscitation — is used to help keep a heart pumping in instances of sudden cardiac arrest, when the heart abruptly stops. Sudden cardiac arrest can be caused by electrolyte imbalances, electrical shock, extreme stress to the body, a severe lack of oxygen (such as after drowning or asphyxiation), cardiac rhythm disturbances, structural heart disease and more.

Effective CPR provided immediately after sudden cardiac arrest can triple a person’s chances of survival. Unfortunately, only 32% of people who experience sudden cardiac arrest receive CPR — whether from a friend, loved one or stranger. That’s why fewer than 10% of people who experience sudden cardiac arrest outside the hospital survive.

Four out of every five cases of sudden cardiac arrest occur in the home. That means, odds are, the life you save with CPR is probably going to be someone you know — a child, parent or other loved one.

The good news is that nearly 45% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims survive when bystander CPR is administered — and anyone can be the bystander who makes a difference.

Each family group who attends will receive a free CPR training kit, featuring a take-home DVD, training mannequin and more. Training will be led by a member of the cardiac services team from Tanner. The training does not provide certification in CPR, but does teach the fundamentals you need to save a life.

Each class will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will last about one hour. The May 28 locations are: Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton in Classroom 2 at 705 Dixie Street and Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica in Classrooms A&B at 601 Dallas Hwy. Pre-registration is required to participate.

For more information and to register your family for free CPR training, visit tanner.org/cpr.