Most people don’t spend much time thinking about what they will do in the event of an emergency. But Scott Cooper – a firefighter and paramedic for the past 40 years in the Stayton, Turner and Aumsville fire districts – thinks that is a mistake.
“[I]n just a few moments, you can be faced with an unexpected emergency affecting you – an ill or injured family member, your friend, your neighbor…” Cooper said. “All too often, I witness situations when someone could have helped but did not – simply because they did not know what to do.”
That’s why he opened MedProEd – a medical emergency training service – and why he is determined that training be accessible to everyone, regardless of age or income.
“Knowledge gives us power – power to make sound, informed decisions; power to face situations with strength rather than helplessness; power to act with confidence rather than indecisiveness…” Cooper pointed out. “A half day in a CPR/First Aid class is all it takes.”
Coined “Saving Lives,” MedProEd’s citizen class teaches attendees basic CPR and first aid, how to use an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED), how to administer Narcan and how to stop life-threatening bleeding. But the course’s real value is the confidence it builds.
“[A]nyone that can carry out the interventions needed can do so,” Cooper said, defining the very young and very frail as the only persons he believes to be exempt. “In fact, the American Heart Association (AHA) Science Guidelines for CPR… [recommends,] children 12 years of age and older should be taught to perform effective CPR and defibrillation; children younger than 12 years of age should be trained in emergency response and CPR to improve confidence and willingness when they are older.”
Cooper took that to heart when he created the Saving Lives program, opening it to families at an “accessible” price.
“By ‘low cost’ we mean approximately 85 to 90 percent off of a standard fee, making it about $15,” Cooper said.
Funded through partnerships with government and private organizations, business sponsors, nonprofits and grant funders, Cooper is excited to also extend a special “First on the Scene” (FOTS) course provided by the City of Stayton.
“[P]eople that reside or work in the 97383 zip code area can apply to attend the FOTS class at the very low cost of $15 per person January through June of 2026, or until the funds run out…” Cooper said. For class schedules and registration go to www.medproed.com.
