Local teens can win prizes, learn CPR at annual party in downtown Idaho Falls

IDAHO FALLS – Idaho Heart Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to nan acquisition and consciousness of cardiovascular health, is gearing up for its 3rd yearly younker arena this Friday.

It’s hosting a 1980s-themed Youth Party Friday astatine nan Downtown Event Center astatine 480 Park Avenue successful Idaho Falls.

The youth-led arena will see CPR and AED competitions, on pinch a unrecorded DJ, free food, games and raffle prizes.

Attendees are encouraged to dress up successful their favourite 80s attire.

Jake Gilbert, nan organization’s vice president, tells EastIdahoNews.com nan intent of it is to supply CPR training and show really to usage an automated outer defibrillator. It’s besides a fundraiser for nan organization.

“It’s geared to get nan connection retired to nan younker successful our organization really important and easy CPR training really is,” Gilbert says. “One of our slogans is ‘you’re ne'er excessively aged aliases excessively young to prevention a life,’ and we want to support going pinch that.”

Leah Whitmer, a elder astatine Compass Academy who’s a personnel of nan foundation, is helping to shape nan event. She’s passionate astir this taxable and is encouraging group to attend.

She joined nan instauration aft gathering Dr. Blake Wachter, nan organization’s president and founder, erstwhile she was 13.

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“I was really inspired by her passion for school nan nationalist astir CPR and AEDs and I wanted to beryllium capable to stock that aforesaid passion pinch her,” Leah says.

Although she’s ne'er had to execute CPR successful existent life, Leah’s interacted pinch a batch of group who’ve had bosom issues and she’s grateful to person nan knowledge and skills to thief successful a infinitesimal of crisis.

She started taking healthcare courses astatine College of Eastern Idaho arsenic a precocious schoolhouse student and is considering getting a Ph.D. successful a healthcare-related field.

Gilbert had a bosom transplant years agone while nether nan attraction of Dr. Wachter. After his surgery, he learned astir Wachter’s nonprofit and wanted to beryllium portion of it.

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The Heart Ball and younker arena are conscionable 2 of nan foundation’s fundraisers held each year. It’s thrilling for Gilbert to spot nan youth’s liking proceed to increase.

“The younker really wanted to get involved, truthful we fto them coordinate and group up their ain event,” says Gilbert. “Youth study amended from … their peers. So we fto them tally pinch their ideas and train their peers.”

The younker arena has been well-attended successful year’s past, Gilbert says, and he’s hoping this twelvemonth is nan biggest 1 yet.

Leah hopes those who be will consciousness inclined to subordinate nan organization.

“Being progressive has a really affirmative effect connected our community,” Leah says. “We want arsenic galore group arsenic imaginable to come.”

The statement starts astatine 7 p.m. and goes until 11 p.m. Those who be are encouraged to make a $5 donation.

Courtesy Idaho Heart Foundation