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AUBURN, Mass. - Next month, the Auburn Fire Department will launch its first Community CPR program. The CPR classes, available to the public, are possible due to the equipment donations of Dr. Arthur and Martha Pappas and the Auburn Permanent Firefighters Local 4157.

Two years ago, the Pappas Foundation donated a number of external defibrillators to Auburn and other places of assembly. Defibs, as they are more commonly called, were placed in town buildings, including all of the schools.

As part of the initiative to better improve the chances of survivability in a cardiac arrest situation, the Pappas Foundation also purchased CPR training manikins as well as a defibrillator trainer that can be used to train the public in the proper methods of delivering CPR.

Recently, the department accepted a donation from the local permanent firefighters union that will allow them to purchase all of the start-up materials needed including books, training DVD, CPR masks and other accessories needed to run the classes.

“This has been a long time coming and a major work in progress” Chief Stephen Coleman Jr. said. “We are finally ready to offer our first class."

The CPR class, open to members of the public will be held on Saturday Feb. 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Auburn High School in the presentation room. The cost for the program is $60 per person which includes the book and a pocket mask needed to perform CPR. Coleman said the cost of the program is considerably less then you will pay for some other companies that offer CPR training.

“We are not doing this as a business so we are able to keep our costs to run a program much lower. Our goal is to provide important, quality training that may keep a family member or someone else in the public alive,” he said. The class is limited to 30 people so early registration is encouraged.

To register for the first class, call the Auburn Fire Department at 508-832-7800 or email the Community CPR Coordinator, Firefighter/Paramedic Adam LaFlash at alaflash@town.auburn.ma.us