𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗢𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡: Firefighters Teach Lifesaving CPR at Santa Monica Farmers Market

SANTA MONICA, CA — As part of National CPR and AED Awareness Week, the Santa Monica Fire Department offered free Hands-Only CPR training at the Downtown Santa Monica Farmers Market, inviting residents to learn a critical, lifesaving skill in a matter of minutes. Santa Monica Fire Battalion Chief Patrick Nulty was on site with firefighters and a nurse educator, guiding community members through the basics of Hands-Only CPR. “We’re out here at the Third Street Farmers Market during CPR Week, showing the public a very simple technique that could help save a life,” said Nulty. “If someone collapses and you’re not sure if they’re breathing, the first thing to do is call 911. Make sure paramedics are on the way.” The next step, Nulty explained, is to begin immediate chest compressions. “We’re no longer teaching mouth-to-mouth—it’s all hands-only and continuous,” he said. “Find the center of the chest, place one hand over the other, and push hard and fast—about 100 beats per minute. Think of the rhythm from Stayin’ Alive by the Bee Gees. For younger kids, we use Baby Shark—same tempo.” Participants took turns practicing on CPR mannequins laid out on mats, receiving guidance and encouragement from the fire crew. The goal: empower bystanders to take action during a cardiac emergency without hesitation. According to the American Heart Association, effective bystander CPR can double or triple a person's chance of survival following sudden cardiac arrest. Hands-Only CPR is intended for use on teens and adults who collapse unexpectedly, but not on infants, children, or individuals who experience cardiac arrest due to drowning or respiratory failure, where full CPR is still required. By meeting the public in an everyday setting like the farmers market, Santa Monica firefighters underscored their commitment to proactive community education and public safety preparedness.