Last month, a group of friends was traveling on U.S. Route 322 when they noticed a disabled vehicle on the side of the road.

The friends were surprised to see a woman performing CPR on an infant – and were even more surprised to see that no other cars had stopped to help.

Although they were stuck in traffic and eager to get to their destination, Heather Giacometti, Lisa Maley, Noelle Topmiller and Alison Verbanas did not think twice about stopping to help.

Years ago, the group of friends met at the Jennersville YMCA where they worked and were trained in CPR, AED and First Aid.

Upon noticing the child in distress, the friends immediately pulled over and put their training into action.

Once Topmiller was able to determine that the child was breathing, she instructed the mother to discontinue CPR and Verbanas stayed in touch with paramedics until they arrived on the scene.

YMCA Training Saves Lives

Giacometti and Topmiller currently work at the Jennersville YMCA in West Grove. Maley and Verbanas are former employees. Previously, all four worked on the Aquatics team – a team that receives top-notch training.

Basic CPR training is important for all to have. That’s why the YMCA is offering a certification class at the Jennersville YMCA on October 19 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM.

The course covers the basics of CPR, AED and First Aid. Registration is open to the public with pricing set at $45 for members and $65 for guests.

Above all, Topmiller and her friends want this story to serve as a reminder to help one another.

“I’m happy to report that the child is stable and healthy,” comments Topmiller.

“But we didn’t do much to help the child other than pulling over and stopping our car. The mother was doing great on her own. All she needed was a little support, an extra set of helping hands and to not feel so alone.”

To sign up for a CPR training course, and to learn how to get involved, visit YMCA of Greater Brandywine’s website.

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