Church of Scientology Nashville Hosts Basic CPR and First Aid Workshop

The Church of Scientology Nashville observed World Civil Defense Day this year with a disaster preparedness workshop.

In the United States, more than 500,000 children and adults experience a cardiac arrest each year, and of those, less than 15% survive, according to the American Heart Association. Nearly 80% of all cardiac arrests occur in public settings or at home.

“That is why it is so important for us to be prepared by knowing CPR and basic first aid, so we can help those we love,” says Julie Brinker, Community Affairs Coordinator for the Church of Scientology Nashville, which recognized the United Nations World Civil Defense Day by hosting a workshop open to the community with experts on disaster preparedness, specifically training attendees how to perform basic CPR and first aid.

World Civil Defense Day was created by decision of the International Civil Defense Organization (ICDO) General Assembly in 1990, and is celebrated every year on the 1st of March. According to ICDO, “This Day… has two main purposes: that of bringing to the attention of the world public the vital importance of Civil Protection and of raising awareness of the preparedness for, and prevention and self-protection measures in the event of accidents or disasters; and that of paying tribute to the efforts, sacrifices and accomplishments of all the national services responsible for the fight against disasters.”

Brinker, who oversees community affairs for the Nashville Church, explained how the it becomes involved during times of disaster. “We have a program called Volunteer Ministers. Anyone of any culture or creed may train as a Volunteer Minister and use these tools to help their families and communities, and all are welcome to do so,” she said. Brinker said volunteerministers.org contains resources one would need to become trained in this technology.  

Equipped with effective technology to resolve virtually any difficulty, Volunteer Ministers live by the motto: “No matter the problem, something can be done about it.” Transcending all ethnic, cultural and religious boundaries, the Volunteer Ministers program is there for anyone in need of help.

In creating the Volunteer Ministers program, L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “If one does not like the crime, cruelty, injustice and violence of this society, he can do something about it. He can become a Volunteer Minister and help civilize it, bring it conscience and kindness and love and freedom from travail by instilling into it trust, decency, honesty and tolerance.”

To learn more about the Scientology Volunteer Minsiters, visit scientology-ccnashville.org.