Local company gifts CPR kits to Akron Children’s Hospital

January 4, 2017 at 12:05a.m.

By Justin Wier

BOARDMAN

Lewis Construction has donated 30 CPR training kits to Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley.

The kits will be used to train the families of patients who are at high risk of going into cardiac arrest.

Carter Lewis, CEO of Lewis Construction, said Monday that the Warren-based company has donated to various causes over its 47 years in the Mahoning Valley. When the company had the opportunity to donate to one of its favorite charities through the American Heart Association, it chose Akron Children’s Hospital.

“We like to give back to the community for things we received,” Lewis said. “We think Akron Children’s Hospital’s presence in the Mahoning Valley is outstanding for the whole community, so this is a real opportunity for us to share some of our good fortune with the hospital and the patients they serve.”

The company received the kits through its sponsorship of the American Heart Association. There are kits for training people in administering CPR to both infants and teenagers; performing CPR on an infant requires extra care to mitigate the risk of injuries that may result from CPR.

Peter Vande Kappelle, pediatric cardiologist at the hospital, said the kits will help families assist their children in the unfortunate event of cardiac arrest.

“Children that might be in cardiac arrest could be resuscitated,” he said. “If the families knew how to perform CPR, that could potentially save an infant’s life.”

Dr. Vande Kappelle said children with severe heart defects have the highest risk of going into cardiac arrest. There is always a need for better CPR training, he said, and educating families is a priority because they are often with the children when a life-threatening event occurs.

“With cardiac arrest, every minute counts,” Vande Kappelle said. “So having CPR right there as quickly as possible will ultimately benefit the child [most].” Those interested in receiving CPR training can obtain information through the American Heart Association at www.heart.org/cpr.