This week's Someone 2 Know says when the business shutdowns were announced, she wasn't sure if her services were considered “essential” during the coronavirus pandemic.
She soon learned the CPR instruction and re-certifications she provides are vital to keeping our health care workers actively saving lives. So, she re-structured her teaching method to comply with social distancing and continues offering CPR, first-aid and workplace safety.
Meet - Kristan Mihelic:
"Eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve,” we hear the counts coming through a small speaker.
This is what modern-day CPR certification looks like; through a glass partition, utilizing a creative communication system - with lead instructor Kristan Mihelic, at the helm;
"We are doing one-on-one classes where we are doing it through our two offices, the glass wall and that way there is zero contact."
From the minute a student walks in the door, new social distancing and safety protocols are enacted.
"I'm gonna have you put on your glove, if you would, please,” says Krista, speaking through the glass partition.
For every class - "All of our equipment will be cleaned, sterilized - they are not sharing equipment with anyone else. They are coming in, doing their skills assessment through a speaker system."
Kristan opened Advantage CPR Instruction and Workplace Safety Training 20 years ago. They offer a variety of classes. As a parent herself, she wanted to make sure they could continue to do it - in the face of our current public health crisis - as safely as possible.
"These people are health care providers, they need to remain healthy as well, and every time they have to step out of their homes, other than to go to work, they're putting themselves a certain amount of risk, and so I'm trying to mitigate that,”
And while most classes have been one on one lately, Advantage CPR is set up to serve small groups as well - with work stations well distanced from one another;
"Everyone has their own table, everyone has their own equipment, whether it be AEDs or mannequins or face masks."
And while she is taking a financial hit during the shutdown, Kristan says she glad she's able to keep her doors open;
"Hopefully we can get the people who need to be certified in order to keep helping our community, are able to do so - and we'll get through it."
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During the current shut-down, Advantage CPR is also offering discounted gift certificates to use for future classes.
To learn more about that offer, or if you're in need of re-certification, click link
