Following Damar Hamlin’s health emergency at the Bills-Bengals football game in early January, the Loveland-Symmes Fire Department (LSFD) has noticed a spike in questions about cardiac arrest training, including CPR and Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).
“We want to remind residents and businesses that we are here to assist. Our department can train you in lifesaving skills,” explained Chief Otto Huber.
LSFD offers quarterly training classes for CPR/AEDs and the Stop the Bleed Program, a campaign to teach what should be done in a bleeding emergency.
“Training will help give you confidence if you are in a situation where someone is suffering cardiac arrest. You will have the chance to practice CPR and how to operate an AED,” explained Captain Brian Hall, coordinator of the department’s CPR training and AED inspections.
“For example, you’ll learn that the AED talks you through the process. The user is prompted through short questions to determine if the unresponsive person is in cardiac arrest. Then, if needed, the machine prompts cycles of CPR and giving shocks.”
Each class is taught by a certified instructor, who also serves as a firefighter or paramedic. Classes are $60 per person and open to both residents and non-residents of the City of Loveland and Symmes Township. Upon class completion, students receive certification from the American Heart Association Heartsaver/AED Program.
If you own a business and wish to schedule a group training for employees, LSFD can coordinate this. Additionally, recertification classes are offered for healthcare professionals, such as doctors or nurses.
Classes are scheduled through 2023. To view the class schedule, please visit click here..
To register for a class or request more information about CPR/AED training, please contact Captain Brian Hall at bhall@lsfd.org. For information about the Stop the Bleed program, please contact Deputy Chief Mike Books at mbooks@lsfd.org.
In addition, LSFD offers a full inspection program for registered AEDs within the City of Loveland and Symmes Township.
Currently, the department inspects a total of 61 AEDs — 31 in the City of Loveland and 30 in Symmes Township. Of the 31 located within city limits, 16 are located in schools and eight are in businesses.
LSFD encourages businesses to display their AED in a public place and notify the department that a device is on premise. Once notified, LSFD will add the AED to their registry and schedule it for routine safety checks. Please email bhall@lsfd.org to be added to the AED business registry.
“As a free service, we inspect all registered AEDs to make sure they are functioning properly. If needed, we will provide replacement pads for the AED,” Hall explained.
The remaining seven AEDS that LSFD inspects are located at City Hall, McCoy Park, Phillips Park, LSFD Station 62, LSFD Station 63, and along the Little Miami Scenic Bike Trail near the Clock Tower in Historic Downtown Loveland.
In 2022, the City of Loveland prioritized installing AEDs at McCoy and Phillips, due to the youth sports played at the parks’ ballfields. An AED costs the city approximately $10k, which includes the device, weatherproof cabinet, and a monitoring camera to connect the device to LSFD’s response center.