By Sheila McLaughlin
The Cincinnati Enquirer

HAMILTON TWP. - The road crew here will soon be doing more than just maintaining the streets. They will be trained to save lives.

Township firefighters, fresh from being certified as American Heart Association CPR instructors, will train the road crew in advanced lifesaving skills, including the use of a defibrillator.

But the fire department doesn't plan to stop there. They will begin offering more basic CPR courses to township residents.

The reasoning is simple: If more people have the skills, more lives can be saved, Deputy Fire Chief Mark Greatorex said.

Chief Goebel Williams said it's important that the eight-member road crew be trained because they are sometimes working around hazards, such as downed power lines. Starting CPR immediately while paramedics are en route is crucial in an emergency, he said.

"Some of those guys aren't kids," Chief Williams said, noting the possibility that workers also could suffer a heart attack on the job.

Township trustees have approved training for the road crew and offering free classes to the public.

Greatorex said he also plans to offer the advanced training to local businesses, and someday envisions having defibrillators available at some of the larger ones.

Residents would receive basic instruction in a program called "Friends and Family," which would teach the needed skills but would not allow them to be certified in CPR as in the other programs.

Plans are still under way, but Greatorex said he would like to hold courses for the public on the third Thursday of each month at one of the firehouses. Classes would be limited to 15 to 20 residents at a time, he said. Groups could also schedule private classes.

Residents interested in CPR instruction should call fire headquarters at 683-1622.

E-mail smclaughlin@enquirer.com