Courtesy photo Representatives from the Manistique Public Safety Department (Manistique EMS) recently met with U.P. Papers employees to accept their donation of CPR instruction items. Shown are, from left, EMT-Paramedic and EMS Coordinator Kyle Levin, Director of Public Safety Tim Russell, Director of Sustainability U.P. Papers Bill Miles and EHS Manager U.P. Papers Kellie Heiden.

MANISTIQUE — Thanks to a local company, the Manistique Public Safety Department (Manistique EMS) has received equipment that will help them train to save lives.

The donation was recently made by U.P. Paper, a division of ProAmpac, according to Manistique Public Safety Director Timothy Russell. U.P. Paper donated four Brayden/BigRed adult CPR manikins. The manikins have LED red light feedback capabilities. Manistique EMS also received four Red Cross AED trainers with adult and child capabilities, along with two deluxe instructor backpacks filled with other training materials.

Russell said the donation will help Manistique Public Safety staff continue to work to training its own personnel, along with Schoolcraft County residents, on how to properly perform cardiopulmonary respiration (CPR).

Russell said donations like this help the department to continue its efforts to to prepare the public for emergencies, and cardiac arrest is a primary emphasis. Because more than 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of a hospital setting in the U.S. each year, CPR is proven to save lives. Statistics show that if performed immediately, CPR can double or triple the chance for survival from an out of hospital cardiac arrest.

“The Manistique Public Safety Department is proud of the long-standing partnership they have had with U.P. Paper over the years and that partnership will now expand CPR capabilities in Schoolcraft County,” Russell said.