Beginning in January 2005, OptiWell, Inc., which provides the optimum in wellness training in San Diego County, will begin regular CPR and first aid classes in Spanish. In addition to workplace trainings, we hold regular evening classes that are open to the community, held in the downtown area at the Golden Hill Health Careers Academy. The classes will be taught by Lucila Ochoa, an Hispanic native southern Californian and the newest member of our OptiWell team.

Luci is a certified EMT-B (Emergency Medical Technician-Basic) who has been teaching CPR and first aid for the American Red Cross, although she is currently looking for a job as an EMT for more hands-on experience in emergencies. When asked, “Why do want to work in emergency medicine and why do you feel CPR and first aid training are important?” she responded, “Why? Well for starters, I don't see myself ever sitting behind a desk. I love being able to help someone when they are the most vulnerable. I love interacting with people, especially when I teach. It is very gratifying. CPR is important because it makes you aware that you are not going to live forever. We are all vulnerable to diseases and emergencies occur every day. Knowing what to do is important, even if you are the type of person that ‘freaks out’ and it helps to prevent such emergencies from occurring in the first place. It is always good to be pro-active about your own safety and the well-being of the people around you.”

Are there any special reasons that CPR and first aid training are important for the Latino community in particular? According to Luci, “Latinos are more at risk to emergencies with negative outcomes, in my opinion, because many do not know what they should do. Now, I am not saying this is always the case, but with new immigrants it is usually so. They do not know the language. In addition, in their home countries CPR is not taught to the general public like it is here in the USA. It is a cultural thing. It would be nice to see more people in the Latino community be pro-active about their own personal safety and take classes to better inform themselves by learning proper first aid and CPR skills.”

In addition to offering nationally recognized first aid and CPR certification in English or Spanish, OptiWell also offers classes in blood borne pathogens and preventing disease transmission, pet first aid, child and babysitter safety, child care, disaster preparedness, hazard communication, emergency oxygen, and basic life saving (BLS) for healthcare providers. All classes are taught to the standards of the American Heart Association and the American Red Cross.

Don Ross is CEO of OptiWell, Inc., an independent training center affiliated with the American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI). He has been providing community health education in schools and workplaces since 1991. Visit us online at OptiWell-inc.com for our community calendar and call (619) 204-3838 to register for a class!