Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola and Visit Pensacola are collaborating to host the first annual Summer Safe Pensacola Series. The first of its kind initiative in Northwest Florida is designed to provide free education on life-saving training skills to Escambia County hospitality workers.
The first of three events planned in 2026 will be Tuesday, June 16 at the Holiday Inn Resort on Pensacola Beach with a morning session from 9 a.m. to noon. and an afternoon session from 2 to 5 p.m. Each session will accommodate up to 50 participants. Hospitality workers can register through the Visit Pensacola website.
The training will include teaching attendees:
- 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 will learn three quick techniques to control severe bleeding and save lives while waiting for help to arrive. This is critical as the leading cause of preventable death after traumatic injury is bleeding.
- 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.
The training will be led by Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola and Studer Family Children’s Hospital trauma and medical experts.
“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,” said Will Condon, President and CEO of Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola. “Using the expertise of the region’s only Level I Trauma Center to help keep residents and visitors safe aligns perfectly with our mission.”
“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,” said Nicole Stacey, Vice President of Destination Development for Visit Pensacola. “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.”
Other community partners involved in putting on the event are the American Heart Association, Escambia County Emergency Services and Lifeguard AirCare 3.
The Summer Safe Pensacola Series will continue on August 5 at the Holiday Inn Resort on Pensacola Beach and on September 9 at the Perdido Key Visitors Information Center.
About Ascension Sacred Heart
Ascension Sacred Heart, based in Pensacola, Florida, operates five hospitals and more than 100 other sites of care and employs more than 6,440 associates. In fiscal year 2024, Ascension Sacred Heart provided more than $193 million in community benefit and other care for vulnerable persons. Ascension is a faith-based healthcare organization dedicated to transformation through innovation across the continuum of care. As one of the leading non-profit and Catholic health systems in the U.S., Ascension is committed to delivering compassionate, personalized care to all, with special attention to persons living in poverty and those most vulnerable.
About Visit Pensacola
Visit Pensacola is the official destination marketing organization for Escambia County, representing Pensacola, Pensacola Beach, and Perdido Key. As America’s First Settlement, founded in 1559, and home to the #1 beach in the U.S., as voted by Condé Nast Traveler readers, the Pensacola Bay Area blends more than 465 years of history with nearly 40 miles of sugar-white sand and emerald Gulf waters. Visit Pensacola is responsible for building tourism as a key economic driver for Escambia County through destination marketing, visitor inspiration, and supporting the local hospitality community.
