Sheriff’s employees are CPR certified

Every commissioned employee — patrol deputies, administration, civil deputies, courtroom bailiffs, communications deputies, and correctional deputies — have been CPR certified, since St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz has been in office, the sheriff said.
Newly commissioned deputies must undergo full cardio pulmonary resuscitation certification training while all other commissioned deputies must undergo a five-hour recertification class, led by sheriff’s Detective Eric Reed, who is a certified CPR instructor, Guidroz stated in a news release.
When a person is not breathing or has no heartbeat, deputies are trained to properly respond with the latest techniques in chest compressions and providing oxygen to the unresponsive person.
Further, every deputy is trained and certified to use an automatic electronic defibrillator, which are commonly found in businesses, malls, health clubs and even homes. Deputies are trained in the precise methods established by the Red Cross and the American Heart Association.
Reed, himself a veteran of many years as an EMS tech, now works as a juvenile detective, taking time away from his busy schedule to teach the CPR classes.
“It is very rewarding to me that the sheriff requires all of our deputies to undergo CPR certification and recertification,” Reed said. “I’ve personally responded to many hundreds of medical emergencies and CPR is a crucial skill. These deputies take the training very seriously and it is comforting to know that just around any corner of the parish, there is a deputy who has been properly trained to save lives.”
Guidroz said, “Our deputies train extensively throughout their career. As sheriff, I am committed to providing the very highest level of professionalism for the citizens of St. Landry Parish. CPR training is a requirement because at any time, on any street or in any business or restaurant, these skills could be needed immediately and without warning. Even the few minutes that would pass before an ambulance with EMS techs arrived, a life could be lost. Every deputy that serves St. Landry Parish is ready to respond to a medical emergency like that.”