For Flathead residents concerned about health, the Flathead Valley Community College Arts and Technology building on Feb. 20 was filled with medical professionals offering screenings for the annual Heart Health Fair.

People could come to FVCC and get a fairly substantial heart assessment and then have a nurse explain the numbers to them.

The tests included cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and diabetic foot screenings.

Kalispell Regional Healthcare provided dozens of medical professionals to instruct and assist local fair-goers. Hospital Executive Chef Seth Bostick even provided heart-healthy meals and snacks.

Lecturers gave presentations and several booths gave demonstrations on how to live a healthier life.

Cathy Lisowski, Kalispell Regional Medical Center’s cardiac rehab supervisor, oversaw a field of cardiopulmonary resuscitation dummies that had apparently all been stricken with cardiac arrest at the same time outside FVCC’s black box theater.

“This is hands-only CPR,” Lisowski said of her demonstration. “It’s just to get people comfortable with doing something.”

Nationally, there is a six to eight percent survival rate from cardiac arrest, largely because people don’t know how to act when someone falls victim. Nearly 400,000 Americans will suffer cardiac arrest this year (which is different from, but may be caused by, a heart attack), and for every minute CPR doesn’t continue, chances of survival drop at least 10 percent.

Events such as the Heart Health Fair allow people who might never take a CPR class learn how to save a family member, friend or a stranger.

Reporter Ryan Murray may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at rmurray@dailyinterlake.com.