Annual CPR/AED Training Helps Community Save Lives

Nearly 150 people showed up Sunday at Millburn High School to receive training and become certified in CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator.

“We offer this free CPR/AED course every year,” said Sharon Brender. “The training is always done on a day during the month of February. That's when my daughter was born.”

Danielle Brender, who was the 11-year-old daughter of Sharon and her husband Avi, died suddenly in 2000. Danielle went into cardiac arrest as a result of the Long QT Syndrome (LQTS), which is a genetic abnormality of the heart’s electrical system.

During Sunday’s training sessions, which were done in conjunction with the Millburn-Short Hills Chapter of the American Red Cross, participants learned early defibrillation techniques and where to place defibrillator pads. They also learned how to recognize the early signs of a heart attack, how to perform CPR on an adult and child and how to help someone who is choking. After attendees were given a written exam and had to receive a score of 80 percent or higher to pass.

Those in attendance included parents and their children, educators and people who were simply interested in learning the techniques. “Most people take this training to help save a life,” said Leigh Pafford, an instructor with the Red Cross. “More than 200,000 people a year die of cardiac arrest. It could be a co-worker, a friend, or anyone. People want to help someone in need and this kind of training will help them be able to do that.”

Millburn resident Ann Collas and her 13-year old daughter Gillian Collas took the class together. “We took it last year and enjoyed it,” said Ann. “They teach CPR and AED training so well, and there’s no value you can place on knowing how to do this.”

Gillian agreed. “I really liked it,” she said. “It wasn’t boring at all. Since I babysit, it’s helpful for me to know these things.”

In addition to a light breakfast, attendees were treated to a spread of delicious food in between sessions that was prepared by Avi Brender. Among the fare was a wide assortment of pasta dishes, salads, and desserts.

After Danielle passed away, the Brender family created a fund in her honor. The fund serves several purposes. Among them is to support scientific research related to LQTS, increase awareness of LQTS, promote EKG screenings for children and teens and to raise monies for the donation of defibrillators.

Sharon and Avi started The Danielle Brender Fund in 2000. “We began raising money and ended up donating about ten AEDs to schools in Millburn-Short Hills in 2001,” Sharon said.

Their work continues. The couple stresses the fact that they would like to see all children and teens receive EKG exams early. “That’s the only way for detection,” she added. “The only symptoms are fainting and cardiac arrest. So EKG screening is very important.”

After Danielle’s death, the entire Brender family went to the doctor for exams. Doctors discovered Avi and two of their children have the genetic cardiac disorder. They then purchased an AED for their home. Statistics show that one person in 5,000 has the disorder and at least 3,000 people die each year from LQTS.

For the past 10 years, the Brender’s annual education and certification sessions have trained an average of 200 people each year. The public can support The Danielle Brender Fund, Inc. by sending donations to P.O. Box 766, Millburn, NJ 07041. To learn more about CPR/AED training, log on to www.mshredcross.org.