Miami Mayor Diaz Thanks Mayor Daley for SALF

March 28, 2005

Welcome note from U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona

SALF National Policy Director Dane Neal, Augustin Barrera, Dr. Ernesto Pretto, Dr. Pace, G Evan, SALF Founder/President Spizzirri, Miami Mayor Diaz, Dr. R Crew

At a press conference at Miami Florida’s Citrus Grove Elementary School, Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, Carol Spizzirri President/Founder Save A Life Foundation, Miami Dade School Superintendent Dr. Rudolph Crew, Dr. Pace, Region Superintendent, Miami Fire Chief William Bryson, and Miami Fire Rescue Battalion Chief, Freddie Fernandez announced its partnership between the City of Miami  and SALF to focus on training school children and staff in basic Life Supporting First Aid (LSFA) skills.

Last December Mayor Diaz witnessed first hand the benefits of SALF’s training and immediately took action to incorporate SALF as part of his “Mayor’s Mentoring Program”.  During the Plenary Session at U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting in January Diaz presented SALF as his “best practice”, “to prepare our youth with skills that could alimentally save a life,” he said.  Diaz thanked Chicago Richard Daley for introducing SALF to Miami and pledged to equal or surpass the number of Chicago Public School children and staff that have been trained by SALF since 1997.

At the press conference Monday Miami Dade School Superintendent Dr. Crews stated, “SALF will be the cornerstone for all Miami Dade School children and staff, which covers schools in and surrounding the City of Miami”. Chief Bryson said “Often a child is first to encounter an emergency, so we must give them the tools to help,” Battalion Chief and SALF Facilitator Freddie Fernandezsaid, “It is common knowledge that if aid is rendered to a person prior to our arrival, the chances are much greater that the person will survive.” “We have trained over 2,000 children over the past three weeks.”  “I see SALF an instrumental part of my “Mayor’s Mentoring Program” by placing the EMS professional in the classroom the child absorbs valuable life saving skills and possibly will consider a medical career in later years”, said Diaz   

“I’m honored that my promise to Dr. Peter Safar (Father of CPR) and Dr. Henry Heimlich (Heimlich maneuver), years ago, is being witnessed today by one of Dr. Safar’s former students Dr. Ernesto Pretto now Professor of Clinical Anesthesia for the University of Miami,” Spizzirri said.  “Without Illinois Congressmen Hastert, Shimkus, Porter, Weller, and U.S. Senator Arlene Spector, Safar’s home state of Pennsylvania, this promise would be fruitless. For it is with their support SALF can plant the seed to help the City of Miami train its children .

“Often a child is first to encounter an emergency, so we must give them the tools to help. I pray the state of Florida follows Mayor Diaz’ example so in an emergency a life is spared because someone knew how to save it.  Dr. Pretto  serves on SALF’s Medical Board and will foster the Foundation’s mission with Lisa Martinez, Sr. Education Advisor to Mayor, Capt. Fernandez and the Miami school officials until we have a saturation of trained students,” Spizzirri said.

Dr. Pace, Regional Superintendent, Mr. Augustin Barrera, Miami Dade School Board, Ms. Gwendolyn Evans, Citrus Grove Elementary School Principle, and Ana Reboredo, Assistant Principal concurred with Mayor Diaz’ remarks.  Mr. Barrera ended the conference by stating “Since Mayor Diaz became Mayor he has fulfilled every promise he made including this commitment for the safety and welfare of our children by incorporating SALF in Miami schools.”