St Matthew’s University donates funds to the Cayman Heart Fund

The Cayman Heart Fund (CHF) recently received a generous donation from St. Matthews University.

The University offers CPR and BLS classes through-out the year and a portion of the funds collected are donated to the CHF supporting their work in the Cayman Islands.

Qualified students receive a certificate authorized by the American Heart Association. “We try to make our classes as interactive and engaging as possible. We want our students to leave the classroom having learned new skills as well as knowledge, not just a certificate. We are always pleased to hear our students tell us that it they find themselves in that situation, they won’t hesitate to help” Clinical Skills Lab Coordinator | BLS Coordinator | BLS Instructor, Lloyd Griffin said.

St Matthews University (SMU) is a school of Medicine providing quality, affordable medical and veterinary education. Since 1997, more than two thousand students have obtained their MD (Doctor of Medicine) and MVD (Doctor of Veterinary Medical) degrees from SMU.

The University’s Dean and Professor of Pathology, Dr. Amitabha Basu said, “we are proud to be associated with the CHF in delivering essential lifesaving skills to the people of the Cayman Islands. We have been providing BLS training to local medical, paramedical staff members, students, and non-medical personnel since July 10, 2010.”

“There is an urgent need to make CPR (Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation) training a must in schools and colleges and especially at the community level so that family members of those people, who fall under high risk zone for developing heart ailments, can give immediate medical assistance in times of emergency. Knowing how to give CPR properly can be a great asset and can save the life of a person when his or her heart stops beating.”

Cayman Heart Fund, Board Chairman, Mr. David Dinner, also mentioned his appreciation to the University’s instructors for their ongoing support and commended the instructors on their commitment to saving lives in the Cayman Islands.

Clinical Skills Lab Coordinator | BLS Coordinator | BLS Instructor, Lloyd Griffin said “We enjoy the rewarding work we do in conjunction with CHF to help educate the public about cardiovascular disease and dealing with emergency situations. The scary thing about cardiac arrest is that it can happen at any time and giving people the ability to help someone while emergency care is on the way can make all the difference.

Cayman Heart Fund, Board Member, Barrie Quappe said, “I love teaching CPR/First Aid at St. Mathew's University. They strive for excellence in their program which is affiliated with the American Heart Association. We train lay persons, medical professionals and anyone who wants the peace of mind that they know what to do in an emergency. One of my students remarked: "This is really easy!" and it is but it can also be tiring and so the more people who can do CPR, the more they can take turns and not tire too easily, maintain good blood circulation to the brain at a crucial time."

For more information about the CPR and BLS classes at SMU please contact the Cayman Heart Fund.

The Cayman Heart Fund (CHF) is a non-profit, non-government organization dedicated to the reduction of heart and circulatory disease in the Cayman Islands. Heart and circulatory disease, known as cardiovascular disease (CVD), is the number one health problem in the Cayman Islands. Cayman Heart Fund is dedicated to educating the public, influencing policy and supporting access to high quality healthcare through various programs and initiatives.

For more information contact: 345-916-6324 or info@caymanheartfund.com.

Dr. Sukumar Thorenoor Kumaraswamy: Assistant Professor, Dept. Of Microbiology and Immunology | BLS Instructor, Lloyd Griffin: Clinical Skills Lab Coordinator | BLS Coordinator | BLS Instructor, Dr. Pritam Biswas: Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs, Cayman Heart Fund Coordinator Angelique Bodden and Dr. Basu: Dean of Basic Sciences