Birmingham paramedic works to close CPR training gap, one person at a time

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ( WBRC ) - Imagine someone collapsing in front of you. Beyond calling 911, would you know what to do?

For most people in Birmingham, the answer is no. According to the American Heart Association, the survival odds here are slim because very few people in the city are trained in CPR.

That reality is what drives paramedic Skyler Cope, who has made it his mission to change those numbers one lesson at a time.

“This is something beneficial not only just for you, me, or anybody else, this is life or death,” Cope said.

Cope is the owner of Skyler Cope CPR. He has traded in his ambulance runs for house calls of a different kind - bringing CPR training directly to people where they live and work.

“I’ve certified over 100 people. My business has been in business for about 12