Issue link: http://hvparent.uberflip.com/i/351083
30 Hudson Valley Parent n August 2014 "The doctors really attributed his life to the friend's CPR," says Metro. Ever since then, Metro has been determined to teach everyone CPR. She asked herself: "How do I make this easier for moms to get this done?" Most CPR courses are at least 4 hours and cost a lot of money. Many parents are busy and don't have the time or money to get CPR certified. By KELLY AURIEMMO S ure, you've heard of Tup- perware parties, Mary Kay parties and Pampered Chef parties, but did you know you could host your own CPR party right in your living room? The CLAY Foundation (which stands for C-CPR, L – learn to float first, A – automated external defibril- lator awareness, and Y – year round, warm-water swim facilities) offers free, in-home CPR parties for anyone willing to host. Since summer is here and many of us have pools in our backyards or live in close proximity to water, I re- cently decided to host my own CPR party and invited some of my friends over to join in. The course offered is a one-hour CPR short program designed to give parents and caregivers a general idea of what to do before the emer- gency response team arrives. This is not a certification program. To get officially certified in CPR, you should contact your local Red Cross. The program is free of charge, although they do ask for a suggested donation of $35 per person, which helps to pay the instructors. The CLAY Foundation was started by a mom, Laura Metro. Three years ago, her 3-year-old son Clay had an accident in a pool. Friends were watching the kids and when Laura returned, she found their son lying on the pool deck, blue and lifeless. A friend started CPR but was not formally trained in CPR. The para- medics came, intubated him on the spot and flew them to the hospital. Clay made a full and miraculous recovery. That is when she came up with the idea for CPR parties. They offer a basic course in CPR, offered in the party style format that we are all fa- miliar with, and are training people nationwide. Even though it is not a certifica- tion course, it still is valuable infor- mation. When asked about her goals for CLAY, Metro says, "I don't want anyone to have to take the helicop- ter ride I took. We are looking for a sponsor to help us get to the national level." So how do I host a CPR party? My first step was to contact CLAY through their website, theclay- foundation.org. I then received an automated email that explains what to do next. If hosting a CPR party is what Host your own CPR party! Learn life-saving basics in your living room I was contacted by a local instructor. We decided on a date and time and it was done. It's just that easy! Shelby Dutcher of Rock Tavern practices adult CPR with the help of instructor Rob Kutler.