Orlando Predators to Become First Responder Athletes

March 7, 2014 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Orlando Predators News Release


ORLANDO, FL - On Monday March 10, 2014, the Orlando Predators will become the first professional Arena Football League team in America to become trained and certified in the critical skills of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). The training will be facilitated by the Orlando Fire Department at downtown Fire Station 1 at 10 am. The training, which is part of the national emergency preparedness program, is known as ATHLETES FOR AMERICA.

Predators COO Scot O'Farrell is excited to partner with ATHLETES FOR AMERICA as he believes that this will have a lasting effect on the Orlando community. "I am proud that the Orlando Predators will become the first professional Arena Football team to be prepared and trained to SAVE A LIFE," said O'Farrell. "Emergencies arise when we least expect them, and I believe that it is imperative that people understand how to help each other in times of need. Our players will now have that ability to do just that, and they will be able to pass that knowledge on to others."

ATHLETES FOR AMERICA (AFA) was founded in September 2001 by former collegiate and professional athlete, Billy McGehee. AFA's Mission; to utilize the strength of our Athletes and the power of the American sports system and media to help educate millions of Americans on how each one of us can become better prepared and trained for any type of natural, manmade or day to day emergency. "Watching the horrific events of September 11, 2001, something changed inside of me. I knew that our Nation had changed forever. I felt that I had to do something to help America become better prepared for emergencies, disasters and even future terrorist strikes. Our citizens would need to learn again how to depend on each other in times of emergencies and disasters. It was clear to me that in order to accomplish this goal America would need to accelerate the education and training of our citizens in life saving programs. Who better than our Athletes to take on this challenge! The idea of using the strength of our Athletes and the power of sports to create a safer nation has now become the foundation of our national initiative" stated McGehee.

Orlando Fire Chief John Miller enthusiastically embraced the partnership with the Orlando Predators and the opportunity to work with ATHLETES FOR AMERICA. "This is an exciting partnership that both sides can build upon for years to come," said Miller. "To have an entire team motivated to train in the life-saving skills of CPR is a testimony to the character of the men on this team," he added. "Their dedication to learn and perform CPR on a victim of a sudden cardiac arrest will certainly lead to an increase in survival rates in our community."

Predators Head Coach Rob Keefe was honored when asked to join forces with ATHLETES FOR AMERICA, and he was inspired by how well the team responded after learning the news. "The Orlando Predators are proud to associate ourselves with ATHLETES FOR AMERICA. We feel privileged to learn how to assist others in times of need, and we thank the Orlando Fire Department for allowing us to do so. Taking pride in our civic duties is what it truly means to be an Orlando Predator."

For more information on the Monday, March 10, 2014 Orlando Predator emergency preparedness training, please contact: Jeffrey Schmidt at jschmidt@orlandopredators.com or call 239-293-4125. For more information on ATHLETES FOR AMERICA, please visit www.athletesforamerica.org.



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