Summary: Libertas Funding, led by Executive Chairman Gary Katcher, has committed to providing free, ongoing CPR training for all employees, inspired by Senior Managing Director David Waill’s initiative. This effort underscores the company’s dedication to workplace safety and the well-being of its staff, emphasizing the critical importance of immediate response in cardiac emergencies.
Gary Katcher, Executive Chairman of Libertas Funding, LLC, a Greenwich-based company, proudly announces the firm’s commitment to providing free, ongoing CPR training for all its employees. This initiative underscores the company’s dedication to workplace safety and employee well-being.
The importance of CPR knowledge in saving lives cannot be overstated. According to OSHA, approximately 10,000 cardiac arrests occur in the workplace each year. Delays in treatment can be deadly, with survival rates plummeting to 5-7% if emergency response teams are awaited. Immediate defibrillation, however, increases survival chances within one year to 60%, as per OSHA’s findings.
Libertas Funding’s commitment to CPR training was inspired by David Waill, a Senior Managing Director with over twenty years of experience as an active first responder and Emergency Medical Technician. Waill, a recipient of the Westchester County Regional EMS Council Lifesaving Award, proposed the purchase of an automated external defibrillator (AED) and the provision of CPR training for all interested employees. Gary Katcher strongly supported this initiative, recognizing the value of training in effectively using AEDs, which come with instructions but require familiarity for optimal use.
Working closely with Greenwich EMS, local 911 responders, Libertas Funding arranged a training session attended by more than 15 employees. Jeff Hudson, Senior Managing Director of Institutional Sales, described the training as a “wonderful team building experience” and a “valuable skill to have, both inside and outside of the workplace.” Hudson expressed heartfelt gratitude to Greenwich EMS for their efforts in training the Greenwich community on proper CPR administration.
During the training, Hudson and his colleagues learned the “Chain of Survival,” a crucial sequence of events that significantly improve chances of successful resuscitation. This includes identifying a cardiac event, calling 911, and immediately starting early chest compressions and defibrillation. Timing is critical, as the chances of surviving a cardiac event drop significantly if the brain is deprived of oxygen for five to ten minutes.
Waill emphasized the importance of AEDs, stating, “AEDs are one of the greatest technological life-saving advances for cardiac arrest in the field developed in the past fifty years. They can work miracles, but only if used quickly.”
Gary Katcher has become an enthusiastic advocate for including AEDs in offices. “Libertas Funding believes that its greatest asset is our employees, and we want to be sure that we are prepared to care for each other in our most vulnerable moments. I am proud that so many of our employees stepped up to enroll in this training and I look forward to ensuring that our employees have additional opportunities to learn this essential and life-saving skill,” said Katcher.
Greenwich companies seeking CPR training opportunities for their employees can visit Greenwich EMS Training and Education Opportunities to learn more about their offerings.
About Libertas Funding
Established by Gary Katcher in 2016, Libertas Funding redefined the financial partnership landscape with a vision centered on serving businesses and ensuring their connection to vital capital. Over seven years, and with over $3.0 billion in funding, Libertas remains committed to providing business owners with the funds and freedom they need to thrive.
