Marion Police, Metro to hold First Aid & CPR training Saturday

Published 1:27 pm Monday, February 23, 2026

Cardiac emergencies can happen to anyone at any time and anywhere, but those who receive prompt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, more commonly known as CPR, are much more likely to recover.

That is why Marion Police Department and Metro Ambulance have teamed up to again host a First Aid and CPR training Saturday at Marion Town Hall.

The training, which will be the fifth class since the partnership began last year, is part of an effort to increase the number of CPR certified residents in Marion and the surrounding community. Marion Police Chief Randall Davis said his goal is to have one CPR certified employee for each shift at all town businesses.

“Like we said before, you don’t know where it’s going to happen. It could be at the connivence store. It could be here. It could be anywhere,” he said. “But the more people that you’ve got qualified, certified in these areas, it’s going to help the community.”

Davis said the initiative is not just for Marion. People commute from other areas, travel and visit other locations, and their training will go with them. Whether they’re at work, vacation or at home, they will have the knowledge and skills needed to potentially save a life if needed.

“That could be the deciding factor of somebody living or not, that we’ve got somebody here who can perform CPR,” he said.

According to the American Heart Association, prompt CPR can double or triple someone’s chances of surviving cardiac arrest. For each minute that passes without it, chances of survival drop approximately 10%.

With the ability to train roughly 20 people per class, Davis said the program will exceed 100 people certified to perform CPR with this next class.

Sgt. Cloist Jimison said CPR has also changed quite a bit over the years, and the techniques are constantly being updated with new information. Those performing CPR don’t have to give mouth-to-mouth, check that the airway is clear, etc., he said.

“It’s a lot simpler to do than it was back then,” he said.

Similarly, first aid for drowning victims and the Heimlich maneuver for adults and children have also incorporated updated practices over time, Jimison said.

Davis said he is committed to continuing the classes as long as there is interest, as there can never be too many people certified in CPR. Those interested in becoming certified can call Marion Town Hall at 601-483-9573, he said, and if Saturday’s class is full, there will be a list going for the next one.

There is no cost to attend.

“The bottom line is we’re here to save lives,” he said.