Ashwyn Basu of Stamford EMS sings "Stayin' Alive" as Pamela Scott demonstrates chest compressions.

Photo Credit: Anthony Buzzeo

Dr. Thomas Nero, a cardiologist at Stamford Hospital, has led a campaign to teach CPR.

Photo Credit: Anthony Buzzeo

Stamford city employees got a training class on “hands-only” CPR Thursday morning to musical accompaniment. As Stamford Emergency Medical Services intern Ashwyn Basu belted out the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive,” Pamela Scott of the Stamford Health Department pushed down on a mannequin’s chest, trying to mimic the beat of the iconic disco hit. Coincidentally, the song’s rhythm is 100 beats per minute, identical to beat of a healthy heart.

Basu and several other members of Stamford EMS were at the Government Center Thursday, where Stamford Hospital cardiologist Dr. Thomas Nero led the training program for all city employees. In addition to CPR training, Nero said he is trying to have Automatic Electronic Defibrillators made available throughout Stamford.

“I truly believe we can become the safest city in America when it comes to cardiac arrest,” Nero said, explaining the benefits of learning CPR and having a defibrillator. The physicians said survival for cardiac arrest has tripled since he started his campaign two years ago.

If you encounter someone who may be in cardiac arrest, check for responsiveness, then call 911, Nero said. Then begin delivering compressions and, finally, use the Automatic Electronic Defibrillator, he said.

Automatic Electronic Defibrillators give spoken instructions on how they work so anyone can use them, Nero said as he demonstrated one on a mannequin.

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