Emergency lifesaving skills are back on the agenda at the Minnetonka Fire Department. As reported by the city's official website, the fire station is resuming its monthly Hands-Only CPR classes, offering residents the chance to learn a potentially life-saving skill. The free sessions take place at Fire Station 1, known as Central Fire Station, and run for an hour starting at 5:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month.

Hands-Only CPR, as championed by the American Red Cross, is touted to be just as effective as the more traditional methods involving mouth-to-mouth breathing. In a cardiac emergency, the immediate response of a bystander can be crucial to the survival of an individual in distress. Learning the Hands-Only technique could mean a difference between life and death for those experiencing cardiac arrest.

Minnetonka Fire Station 1 is centrally located on the Minnetonka city campus, with an address at 14550 Minnetonka Blvd. It's here where community members can equip themselves with the knowledge and skills imparted by a Minnetonka Deputy Fire Marshal. The sessions are not only educational but also carry the weight of empowerment, enabling everyday people to act swiftly and confidently in the face of emergencies.

The initiatives by the Minnetonka Fire Department reflect a broader recognition of the importance of CPR proficiency among the general public. In such critical moments, when every second counts, having a bystander who can administer CPR until professional first responders arrive can significantly increase the chances of survival for a cardiac arrest victim.