Perdido Key, Fla. — (OBA) —   Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola and Visit Pensacola are teaming up to bring free emergency response training to Perdido Key. The program is part of the Summer Safe Pensacola Series, a first-of-its-kind initiative in Northwest Florida. It is designed to equip frontline hospitality workers with hands-on lifesaving skills. The series targets people who may be the first to respond in an emergency.

The third event in the inaugural series is scheduled for Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at the Perdido Key Visitors Center, 15500 Perdido Key Drive. The session will run from 9 a.m. to noon and will accommodate up to 50 participants. Hospitality workers can register on the Visit Pensacola website.

The Summer Safe Pensacola Series launched on June 16, 2026, with a follow-up session on August 9, 2026, both at the Holiday Inn Resort on Pensacola Beach. Previous sessions drew employees from hotels, restaurants, attractions, and other service industries. Participants included tourism professionals, surfing instructors, and tennis instructors.

The Perdido Key event will offer hands-on instruction from medical, trauma, and emergency-response experts. Participating organizations include Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola, Studer Family Children's Hospital, Escambia County Emergency Services, Lifeguard AirCare 3, and Escambia County Public Safety.

The training curriculum covers three critical emergency response skills:

• Hands-only CPR: Empowering bystanders to respond to emergencies by providing immediate CPR can triple survival rates for people experiencing cardiac arrest in public settings.
• Stop the Bleed: Participants learn three quick techniques to control severe bleeding and save lives while waiting for help to arrive. This is critical as bleeding is the leading cause of preventable death after traumatic injury.
• Water Safety Skills: Training includes drowning prevention resources for children, individuals with autism and special needs, and adults with dementia who may be at increased risk near water.

A previous participant highlighted the program's value for everyday hospitality staff. "It's so important to get your frontline people trained — bartenders, maintenance staff, housekeepers, anyone. You never know who might be walking by and see something," said Brandi Crowley, director of sales for Residence Inn Pensacola-Airport.

Will Condon, CEO of Ascension Sacred Heart Health System, said the partnership reflects the hospital system's broader mission. "We are thrilled to partner with Visit Pensacola to offer this free training event and equip hospitality workers with lifesaving skills to respond when seconds count," Condon said. "Using the expertise of the region's only Level I Trauma Center to help keep residents and visitors safe aligns perfectly with our mission."

During a visit to Pensacola, Vice President of Destination Development Nicole Stacey noted the scale of tourism in the area and the importance of safety readiness. "With more than 2.5 million visitors traveling to the Pensacola Bay Area each summer, expanding access to emergency response training helps create a safer environment for residents and visitors alike," Stacey said. "This collaboration with Ascension Sacred Heart strengthens our community's commitment to safety while enhancing the visitor experience and reinforcing Pensacola's reputation as a premier destination."

The American Heart Association and the Escambia County School District support the Summer Safe Pensacola Series. Ascension Sacred Heart and Visit Pensacola plan to continue the series annually in the Pensacola area.