ARVIN, Calif. — Kern County Public Health Services Department is giving you a chance to learn Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) at an upcoming public education event.

At last year's event, the department says more than 1,215 Kern County residents were trained in hands-only CPR and they're hoping to surpass that number this year.

Hands-only CPR (chest compression but no mouth-to-mouth breathing) focuses on the first few minutes following a sudden cardiac arrest, since the lungs and blood contain only enough oxygen to keep vital organs healthy for a very short period of time. While emergency crews are on their way to the scene CPR will provide the ongoing blood flow needed to give the patient a better chance of survival.

The hands on CPR training will be held at Grimmway Academy located at 901 Nectarine Court in Arvin from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on May 2nd.