The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta has a comprehensive emergency response team on-site at all times during the event. However, when an emergency happens, Navigators can make the difference in those few minutes until Public Safety arrives. We invite you to learn CPR and help make our event safer for everyone involved.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest kills 300,000 annually. You can help change or reduce this number by learning hands-only CPR. Project Heart Start (PHS) is dedicated to training all able individuals to perform compression-only CPR (COCPR) and to encourage and facilitate the placement and utilization of automated external defibrillators (AED).

A Project Heart Start training session lasts only about 40 minutes and is divided into watching a 12 minute video produced by KOAT and Dr. Barry Ramo, followed by a 15 minute skill session led by a trainer and a short demonstration of an AED (Automated External Defibrillator). It is a non-certification class. The participant will learn to:

Assess a victim of Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Call 911
Correctly perform chest compressions
Recognize the signs of a heart attack
Save someone who is choking by performing the Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrusts)
Use an AED

This class is offered through the New Mexico Heart Institute. Attend the class and receive 1 Merit in the AIBF Above and Beyond Program. (Please note - a merit cannot be awarded if you already have CPR Certification.)

PLEASE NOTE:

While we would like all of you to be CPR trained and you are welcome to attend any of these sessions, we are inviting AIBF Navigators to opt for the 8:00 a.m. session so we can show up as a large group. We expect media coverage for the large group session. As such, we'd like you to wear one of your AIBF volunteer shirts when you attend the training.

Additionally, the AIBF Swap Meet is that same day and starts at 9:00 a.m., f you attend the 8:00 a.m. session, you can then head to the swap meet.

Project Heart Start Day - Compression-Only CPR Class (Non-Certification)