Henrico County will hold a series of open houses from April 15 through 26 to teach residents to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) to potentially save the life of someone in cardiac arrest. More than 356,000 cardiac arrests occur outside a hospital in the U.S. each year, according to the American Heart Association.

“We are excited to be able to give our residents an opportu- nity to learn and practice skills that could potentially help them save someone’s life,” said Jenn Welch, emergency management coordinator for the Department of Emergency Management and Workplace Safety. “In cardiac emergencies, every second counts. Our community will be stronger and safer if we have knowledgeable residents who can step in during an emergency and render aid until first responders arrive.”

The open houses are free, with no registration required. Participants will receive instruction in noncertification CPR, which involves the delivery of chest compressions.

Each open house will include an opportunity for questions and a demonstration, which will allow participants to practice chest compressions on a mannequin and follow the prompts of an automated external defibrillator. Each portion will last about 15 minutes and be offered continuously during the two-hour open houses, allowing participants to arrive and leave at their conve- nience. The sessions are sponsored by the Henrico Department of Emergency Management and Workplace Safety in partnership with Community Safety and Response Educators.

The open houses will be held these locations:

Saturday, April15, 10a.m.-noon, pickleball courts at Pouncey Tract Park, 4747 Pouncey Tract Road;

Wednesday, April 19, 5-7 p.m., Deep Run Recreation Cen- ter, 9900 Ridgefield Parkway;

Wednesday, April 19, 5-7 p.m., Dorey Park Recreation Center, 2999 Darbytown Road;

Wednesday, April 19, 5-7 p.m., Hidden Creek Recreation Center, 2417 Brockway Lane;

Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m.- noon, LakesideVolunteer Rescue Squad, 2007 Timberlake Ave.;

Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m.- noon, Sandston Branch Library, 23 E. Williamsburg Road;

Wednesday, April 26, 5-7 p.m., Glen Allen Branch Library, 10501 Staples Mill Road; and

Wednesday, April 26, 5-7 p.m., Tuckahoe Area Library, 1901 Starling Drive.