McDonalds Helps Save Lives

January 12, 2005

Return to the News Index

Photo of Ronald McDonald, SALF President/Founder Carol Spizzirri, and Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan
More Photos

January 12th Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan commends Ronald McDonalds House Charities for sponsoring the training of the children in more than fifty Chicago Public Schools in life saving skills at a press conference held at Hamilton Elementary School, Chicago. "Children's safety is our number one concern and we have witnessed SALF's training resulting in numerous lives being saved by the children SALF's has trained," stated Duncan. "Carol and the SALF Instructors has been a long time friend of CPS. This school year alone they have taught over 10,000 students and we are pleased to have SALF as a partner of the Chicago Public Schools".

32nd Ward Alderman Theodore Matlak stated, "I remember an incident several years ago at Pulaski School, in my district, when only days after SALF Instructors had trained its nearly 1,200 students, a third grader was severally injured. The observing children promptly aided this student with the skills they had just learned, resulting in his life being saved". 

In a joint financial effort, prompted by Ronald McDonald House Charities President Ken Barun and Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan, SALF was granted $75,000 to train Chicago area students, from K-12 grades, how to help should they ever face a real emergency.  "We thank SALF, McDonald House Charities, and Chicago Public Schools for including Hamilton Elementary School in this important training. … The children have demonstrated a eagerness to learn and the observing teachers have been extremely pleased with the presentation and curriculum of the program", said Alexander Hamilton Principle Dr. Mila Strassburg.

"Ronald McDonald Charities is truly pleased to support this meaningful program", stated Louise Palvig Edwards, RMHC Representative.  "Children are Ronald McDonald's first consideration and witnessing what I've seen here today, Ronald McDonald's House Charities looks forward in expanding this partnership to even more students".

Since 1997 the Chicago Board of Education has opened its 630 Public Schools, allowing SALF to train over 400,000 students.  SALF has demonstrated, with its web based data collection testing system, that children are able to retain these life saving skills by 97% after 3 months and once taught are more willing to save a life than take one by 57%. 

"The role model a SALF Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Instructors makes, such as Sid Blustain FF/EMTP who conducted today's training, has a positive impact on the children and have witnessed several students choosing a career as either a Chicago Firefighter/EMS and or a Chicago Officer", stated Carol Spizzirri, SALF's President/Founder, and have become a SALF Instructor as well".  Spizzirri went on to say, "But most importantly, these students become more caring and responsible citizens once they are empowered with skills to handle an emergency."  It is partners like Ronald McDonalds House Charities, the Chicago Public Schools and representatives like Alderman Matlak, Illinois Senator John Cullerton, State Representative John Fritchy and State Senate President Emil Jones who care enough about our children's safety to continually support the benefits of our training", said Spizzirri.