Butler resident Lynn Deal can give firsthand testimony to the importance of knowing how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. She is alive today at least in part because of the CPR her 20-year-old son, Stephen, learned while a Grade 9 student.

Stephen successfully performed the procedure Jan. 27 in the first minutes after Lynn was struck with a seizure at the family's West Penn Street home. Another son, Daniel, 10, who was with his mother when the seizure began, was unsuccessful as he tried giving her CPR based on what he had seen on television.

Sephen had been in another room of the house when he heard Daniel shouting "Mom! Mom! Mom!" as Daniel tried to revive their mother.

Some people shudder over the thought of how they might react in such an emergency. The fact is they would be more confident in facing such a situation after completing CPR training.

The Deals' story should be eye-opening to Butler County residents who up to now have not sought that life-saving skill.

— J.R.K.