By Steven Mayer

The Bakersfield Californian

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — It was mid-morning Monday at the Ming Avenue branch of Valley Strong Credit Union in southwest Bakersfield.

As customers completed transactions with tellers, not far away, 18-year-old Areli Juarez could be seen performing CPR on a silent figure near the windows.

Of course, the silent figure was a CPR mannequin, all part of a concerted effort by the American Heart Association, Dignity Health and Valley Strong to expand CPR skills across the Bakersfield community.

“I came here to open a bank account for the first time,” Juarez said. “But when I saw this, I was like, hmm, I wonder what they’re doing.

The young Del Oro High School grad is planning to attend Bakersfield College in August to study nursing.

“This is an impor

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