Downers Grove CPR Ltd.

10/16/2026

This is so sad. PLEASE inform everyone you know. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS THE TRACKS WHILE THE GATES ARE STILL ACTIVE!! Not going up, not the train has passed, not mostly up. It’s illegal to cross while the fares are still active for a reason.

Be careful out there!!!!

Tommy Offer had just left church.

He was 18, a freshman baseball player at Wheaton College. He had attended Mass at St. Michael Catholic Church in downtown Wheaton.

He was walking back toward campus.

It was about 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, October 11. He came to the tracks near Main Street and Front Street.

A freight train was coming.

Tommy stopped and waited. A westbound Union Pacific freight rolled through.

Then the first train cleared the crossing.

Witnesses say Tommy started across. Another freight train was coming the other way.

The second train was heading east.

It struck Tommy, and he died.

Metra says nothing so far suggests this was anything but a tragic accident.

The investigation is still open. Tommy's baseball team is grieving.

His coach had a lot to say about the kind of person he was.

Coach Matt Husted says Tommy was sincere in every part of his life. He was joyful, but a real competitor.

Tommy had only been in Wheaton since August.

Still, he had built a big circle of friends on campus. His coach says he truly cared about other people and showed it.

His church noticed him too.

St. Michael's says Tommy had been coming to Mass since he arrived in August. His family is from Washington Township, Michigan.

Rail safety experts have one warning that fits here.

A second train can be hidden behind the first. Wait until the crossing is fully clear before you move.

If a train just passed, do you always check the other direction?

10/16/2026

Quick AED tip for local business owners: 🔋

AED batteries typically last 2–5 years in standby, and electrode pads usually need replacing every 1.5–5 years — but it varies by brand, so the real expiration dates are printed right on the battery and pad packaging.

Our AED Easy Tracker is designed to help you with staying on top of expiration dates. Contact us today to get setup with our coplimentary program.

But for now, take two minutes this week: check your AED’s status indicator light, and look at those printed dates. If anything’s confusing or you’re not sure what you’re looking at, send us a photo — happy to help you figure it out.

10/12/2026

No help from the refs needed—this Georgia fan earned her 100%! 😉🏈

She did fantastic in our CPR class, and we had plenty of laughs about the Alabama–Georgia rivalry along the way.

At Downers Grove CPR Ltd., we welcome every fan and take teaching lifesaving skills seriously.

Different teams. Same goal: more people prepared to help save a life. ❤️

Congratulations—and Roll Tide! 🐘

09/29/2026

Own a business with an AED on the wall? Here's a simple way to make sure it's ready when it counts.

AED Easy Tracker is our free tool for local businesses — track your AED's location, battery, and pad expiration dates, and staff certifications, all in one place. No more guessing, no more surprise expirations.

Want the paid tiers to handle replacements automatically? We've got Gold and Platinum plans too, but tracking itself is free to start.

Message us, and we'll get you set up. It takes about five minutes.

09/25/2026

Happy Dolly Day! 💕✨
Today only, Downers Grove CPR Ltd. is celebrating with a little extra sparkle.

Register today for any upcoming public class and receive $5.00 off your registration. You do not need to take the class today — you simply need to complete your registration today for a future class date.

And for every registration we receive today, we’ll also donate $4.25 to a Dolly-related charity.

So if CPR, First Aid, BLS, or another public class has been on your to-do list, today is a great day to get it scheduled!

Register at DownersGroveCPR.com
US99 / Chicago's Country Station

09/24/2026

Years later, people probably won't remember every slide from a CPR class.

They may not remember every step exactly as it was written on the screen. But they might remember a story. A question someone asked. A situation we talked through. ,Or an example from a real emergency. Rich's review got me thinking about that.

He mentioned the examples I shared from my years as a paramedic and the audience participation during the class. Those are the parts of teaching I enjoy most. Because when people are asking questions, sharing their thoughts, and talking through real situations, they're not just sitting through a class.

They're engaged. Rich, I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. Thank you for the kind words.

If you're looking for CPR or BLS training, you can see our upcoming classes here:

https://downersgrovecpr.enrollware.com/schedule

— Dave

09/17/2026

One question I hear from CPR students all the time is:

"What if I do CPR wrong and hurt someone?"

It's a real fear.

When people imagine a medical emergency, they're often worried about making the wrong decision. They don't want to hurt someone. They don't want to panic. And they don't want to make a bad situation worse.

But during an emergency, doing nothing because you're afraid can also cost valuable time.

That's one reason hands-on CPR training matters. It gives you the chance to practice the skills, ask questions, and understand what to do before you're ever faced with a real emergency.

You don't need to be perfect. You just need to be prepared enough to act.

Have you ever felt nervous about performing CPR? What worries you the most?

If you're thinking about taking a CPR class or renewing your certification, check out our upcoming classes through the link in our bio.

09/13/2026

We have a new parents CPR class, and we get asked about this all the time. Make sure your littles are secure.

The Woodridge Police Department, Senator John Curran, and the Illinois Department of Transportation, invite the community to a Free Car Seat Safety Inspection event on Saturday, September 26, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Cypress Cove! 🚗

09/11/2026

September 11, 2001 is a day I will never forget.

This year marks 25 years since the lives of so many families and communities were changed forever. We remember the thousands of people who lost their lives that day, and we especially remember the firefighters, paramedics, police officers, and other first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice while trying to help others.

For me, this day carries a very personal meaning.

I was hired full-time on June 4, 2001. After completing a two-month academy, I had only been working shift duty for about a month when September 11 happened. I was just beginning my career as a firefighter/paramedic, and watching what happened that day had an impact on me and on the way I viewed this profession.

Twenty-five years later, the memories remain.

Today, I simply want to pause and remember those who never made it home, the families who lost loved ones, and the first responders who answered the call knowing they were putting themselves in harm's way.

We remember. We honor. We will never forget.

September 11, 2001 — 25 years later, we still remember.

09/10/2026

We are COMMITTED to making sure the AEDs we sell are properly set up. We have seen countless AEDs at facilities where the AED was there, but was not ready to be deployed. Today, we got Bellwood School District 88 set up with their new Physio-Control CR2s. These AEDs have only one set of pads for Adult OR Pediatric use. With a push of a button, the AED will reduce the shock dose to the proper shock if the patient is less than 8 years of age. No more switching pads during an emergency. This reduces the chance of making mistakes. We also got them set up with our own AED Easy Tracker to make sure the AEDs are compliant with Illinois AED Laws and Rescue Ready.