TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Leon County EMS will host its 14th annual “Press the Chest” event on May 9, offering families a chance to learn lifesaving skills.
Attendees will be trained in hands-only CPR, use of an automated external defibrillator, and CPR techniques for children and infants.
Leon County EMS Deputy Chief Sally Davis said bystanders play a critical role in emergencies before first responders arrive.
More Tallahassee News
“It only takes four to six minutes for brain damage to start to occur,” Davis said. “If someone doesn’t recognize cardiac arrest and recognize that they need to start CPR, then that patient’s chance of a positive outcome is going to decrease.”
She added that a patient’s chance of a positive outcome can drop by 10 to 15 percent a minute.
The event is open to all ages, including children as young as seven. Participants will receive a take-home kit and a mannequin for practice.
Press the Chest will be held May 9 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center.
To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Nextdoor and X (Twitter).
Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here. Please include the article’s headline in your message.
Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here to get started.
Copyright 2026 WCTV. All rights reserved.