Paintball and CPR? The Idaho Heart Foundation to host free paintball night and life-saving training
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IDAHO FALLS — The Idaho Heart Foundation is hosting a free paintball night for ages 11 and up, featuring CPR and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) training led by the foundation’s youth leaders.
The event will be held on Sept. 19 at Bunker Village, at 9752 West Arco Highway, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., with raffles, refreshments and training. The foundation will provide 100 paintball pellets per attendee.
Beats Per Minute, the portion of the foundation consisting of the youth ambassadors, handles planning and hosting fundraisers, such as teen dance nights, and is in charge of hosting the free paintball event for its second year.
Jake Gilbert, vice president of the foundation, adds that adult volunteers, including himself and the foundation’s president, Blake Wachter, will oversee children at the event and can answer attendee questions.
The event is funded by The Heart Ball — which is held by the foundation every February — sponsored by Mountain View Hospital, Idaho Falls Community Hospital and Teton Auto Group. Part of the proceeds from the ball go to youth events, while the larger portion goes to providing first responder units with AEDs for their vehicles.
The foundation also donates to the College of Eastern Idaho toward medical, CNA, RN, or EMT/EMS scholarship programs.
Gilbert told EastIdahoNews.com that the foundation spokesman, Chief Lyle Barney of the Shelley-Firth Ambulance Service, works with smaller quick response units, firehouses and police departments to assess their AED needs.
“The biggest thing is building confidence in youth so they know how to call 911, perform hands-only CPR compressions, and hook up and use an AED. It opens up interest in the medical field, whether it’s EMS, EMT, registered nurse, or CNA.” Gilbert said.