POST FALLS — Santa Claus is getting hands-on this holiday season to try and save lives. 

Kootenai County Fire and Rescue helped teach CPR to about 4,000 people last year, but they’re hoping to make the skill less intimidating by partnering with Northwest Specialty Hospital and Post Falls ER and Hospital to host holiday drop-in training sessions. 

    

Fifth grader Ayla McKinzie and Santa teamed up to learn hands-only CPR together Thursday night at the first of two sessions offered this week. The second session takes place from 9 a.m. to noon today at the Kootenai County Fire and Rescue training facility on Seltice Way.  

“Santa needs to learn CPR,” the man in red could be heard booming out in the lobby of Kootenai Fire’s training facility. 

McKinzie and Santa talked about presents and how the sleigh could use a little more snow for a less bumpy landing before Tony Blasick, an engineer at Kootenai County Fire, walked them through proper CPR techniques. 

Fire Chief Chris Way said the department is taking a more direct approach, bringing CPR practices to the greater North Idaho community by hosting quarterly events. 

“We really delved into some data and what we found is in cardiac arrest patients, only 28% were getting bystander CPR prior to first responders. Your survivability chance goes up 50% if you receive CPR prior to first responder arrival,” Way said. 

The training itself takes 10 minutes and will prepare people to step up and help someone facing a cardiac emergency. 

“It's totally easy, and we don’t want this to be intimidating. We want you to feel comfortable doing it,” Way said. “In the old days, people were hesitant to do CPR because you had to put your lips on somebody’s lips and that, of course, was icky and gross.” 

As one of the partnering agencies, Elizabeth Paddack of Northwest Specialty Hospital educated more than 140 community members about hands-only CPR in 2024, working with youth sports organizations and schools to help increase awareness of the need to act fast and with confidence. 

“This type of education also helps to cultivate an environment where neighbors help neighbors; it brings people together for the greater good,” Paddack said.

    Fifth grader Ayla McKinzie took a photo with Santa Claus before learning how to do hands-only CPR compressions Thursday at the Kootenai Fire and Rescue training facility on Seltice Way. A second event is scheduled for 9 a.m.-noon today.
  

    Fifth grader Ayla McKinzie learned how to do hands-only CPR with Santa Claus himself Thursday night. A festive drop-in CPR training is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon today at the Kootenai County Fire and Rescue training facility on Seltice Way.