The highest technology for saving lives in emergency or non-emergency situations is incorporated in the fleet of AMR ambulances operational throughout New Hampshire and elsewhere. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

NASHUA – National EMS Week 2026, May 17-23, was spiced in New Hampshire with an audacious challenge among the state’s five executive councilors and Gov. Kelly Ayotte to educate at least 1,000 Granite Staters in the life-saving practice of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation — CPR.

Members of the Executive Council include Joseph Kenney, Karen Liot Hill, Janet Stevens, John Stephen and Dave Wheeler.

Those in the local community who took up the challenge to learn hands-only CPR and how to properly operate an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) met during their choice of two sessions on May 19 at the Nashua headquarters of American Medical Response (AMR) of New Hampshire on West Hollis Street.

The competition’s CPR Trainer was Matthew Michaud, a longtime AMR emergency medical technician and instructor with a hefty portfolio of additional credentials.

“The more people we train, the more lives we save,” said Michaud. These days, we do hands-only chest compressions to stimulate breathing — hard and fast, 100-120 compressions per minute, comparable to the beat of the song, ‘Stayin’ Alive’ by the Bee Gees.”

Ready to roll when the call for help comes into AMR of Nashua is Stephannie Inkel, a Nashua resident and Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT), whose work in emergency services she describes as tough but gratifying. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

The goal of 1,000 enrollees was surpassed.

A total of 1,021 people trained to save lives. The results are shared here for the five districts, regions which sometimes entail dozens of towns in far-flung areas of New Hampshire.

Joseph Kenney of District One accrued 156 enlistees.

Karen Liot Hill of District 2 enticed 320 trainees.

Janet Stevens of District 3 secured Zero.

The CPR Training Challenge offered May 19 at American Medical Response (AMR) of New Hampshire on West Hollis Street in Nashua during National EMS Week, May 17-23, drew avid participants, from left, Matthew Michaud, CPR instructor and Manchester resident; Peter Schoener of Nashua, Katheline C. of Hudson; Greg Roberge of Merrimack; Steven Breen of Nashua; Adam Galonski of Nashua and Julie Spencer of Nashua, accompanied here by Lucy Coulombe, EMT, and Stephannie Inkel, AEMT, both Nashuans and members of the AMR ambulance team. Photo by LORETTA JACKSON

John Stephen of District 4 rallied 513 educated.

Dave Wheeler of District 5 rustled up 32.

Nashua paramedics Stephannie Inkel, credentialed as an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT), and Lucy Coulombe, her associate EMT, were on duty during the evening session of the CPR Training Competition at AMR.

Between calls, they helped Michaud, a Manchester resident, greet the group of eight attendees, from Hudson, Merrimack, and Nashua.

The firm is a nationwide company founded in 1991 and currently retains 28,000 AMR paramedics, EMTs, RNs and other professionals serving a reported 4.8 million. Locally, it is the primary ambulance provider for Nashua and Manchester.

Inkel allowed that EMT employment at AMR of Nashua can be “tough but gratifying.” She commended the elevated state of the EMS industry in that today’s ambulances are superbly equipped with advanced technology, life-saving medications and medical equipment of the highest caliber.

“It’s our job — we help people get through a transport or an emergency or a non-emergency situation with care and dignity,” Inkel said. “We’re just a part of the team.”

More information on the CPR Training Competition is available online at cprchallengenh.com.