Palm Harbor class teaches CPR to people hard-of-hearing and deaf

PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Palm Harbor Fire Rescue hosted a specialized CPR class for people who are deaf or hard of hearing after a child drowned in Palm Harbor last year. The class, taught with the help of American Sign Language interpreters, included Jasmine Torrence, a medical behavior assistant for Pinellas County Schools, and about a dozen other students. “I want to be able to get this certification for my job,” Torrence said through interpreter Benjamin Jackson. Torrence’s 3-year-old son, Kyrie, drowned in a pond by their apartment in April 2025. “He loved playing and he was such a happy young boy,” Torrence said. “I loved his voice and hearing him all the time.” Elizabeth Willi, public information officer for Palm Harbor Fire Rescue, said Torrence told her after the drowning that she had not been able to take a CPR class because there were no classes available in American Sign Language. “This a demographic that we never reached before, and it’s something that we need to reach not only with CPR, but also with fire and life safety programs,” Willi said. It was the second CPR class Palm Harbor Fire Rescue has organized for people with hearing issues, with support from other organizations. Willi said CPR is a skill everyone should know. “We just had actually an incident yesterday on the trail and somebody that was passing by started CPR,” Willi said. “She was a nurse and she saved his life right before first responders were able to get there. So it’s definitely necessary for everyone to know how to do CPR.” Willi and Torrence also have raised $6,000 for free swim lessons at the Palm Harbor YMCA. Some of the lessons are specifically for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. “I want for all children to be as safe as possible,” Torrence said. “For them to have swimming lessons for them to stay safe.” Willi said they hope to offer ASL CPR classes quarterly.