Where arts and community intersect, Park Theatre joins Heart Safe Holland initiative

Holland’s Park Theatre is a community of artists.

Both of those things — art and community — are at the essence of the nonprofit music venue, so when a beloved neighbor suggested staff take a CPR class, management jumped on the chance.

“I feel like we almost have this responsibility to be prepared for if somebody in our community needs us, to be a helping hand,” says General Manager Brandon Blank. “Bringing people into your home, you want to make sure you can take care of them”

Blank — who until this year last had first aid training as a teen babysitter — considers it lucky there hasn’t been a major medical emergency at the theater.

The Park Theatre is increasingly busy these days.

“Now we’re at the point where we’re seeing every demographic, every walk of life come through the door,” Blank says.

In February, the entire theater staff as well as a couple of board members took a one-hour hands-only CPR training class.

“My staff could see something happen at a grocery store, and be able to help to,” Blank says. “That’s somebody’s true time of need if there’s a medical emergency.”

That one class is part of a much bigger effort to make Holland a Heart Safe Community. To obtain that designation, the city must have 15% of the population learn CPR techniques each year, keep statistics about heart attack survival rates, etc., know where every public AED is, and have a quality improvement program.

The city of Holland and its partners are working to bring simple CPR education to as many people as possible.

“It could be as minimal as a 2- to 3-minute demonstration at a community festival,” says Angela Lound, co-organizer and a full-time firefighter and EMT with the city of Holland.

The hands-only CPR technique is that simple.

The city is partnering with Evergreen Commons, Holland Hospital, Ottawa County Department of Public Health, American Medical Response, and Rotary Clubs of Holland as well as a handful of churches and individuals.

Evergreen Commons is the primary location for free CPR classes for now (9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Saturday, July 8; 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 19; 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Friday, July 21), but Heart Safe Community organizers are planning free classes in community spaces around Holland in the future, including the Park Theatre.

Check the Heart Safe Holland website for the most up-to-date list.

The classes won’t result in CPR certification, but the free training would give a foundational knowledge in life saving techniques.

“When someone is in cardiac arrest, they don’t care if you have a (certification) card. As long as you’re doing something, you increase their chance of survival,” Lound says. “What we really want is the nearest person to start the soonest. We don’t want to wait for the doctor or the EMS or someone who would be better at it. We want you to do it.”

When someone collapses, the faster someone can start chest compressions, the better their chances of survival, according to the American Heart Association.

The task force wants to increase the number of AEDs available in Holland — and, equally importantly, to make sure the public knows they are safe to use.

John Shea, himself a heart attack survivor who owes his life to CPR, is a prime mover in the city’s efforts.

“My office used to be right next door (to the Park Theatre),” Shea says. “We shared a wall. I used to be able to hear the bass when they were getting started.”

Shea says he holds a special place in his heart for the theater known for letting new musicians try out their chops, including his then-teenage son.

The conversation started the way most conversations with John Shay start, Blank jokes.

“I think I had a rock that said ‘Learn CPR, save a life,’” Shay says.

Since his heart attack last year, Shea has become an advocate to anyone who will listen about the importance of learning CPR.

Before the class, one bartender and the security staff had any kind of CPR training. The Park had emergency evacuation procedures but not medical procedures. That needed to change, Blank says.

“The class itself was really fun and upbeat,” he says.

More are coming to a community space near you.