SOMEONE IS unresponsive and has quit breathing. A loved one is struggling to breathe or appears to be experiencing a heart attack. A child is choking on a grape. Any one of us could find ourselves alone in the midst of these situations and others like them. Would we know what to do?
CJ and Courtnie Dunn are on a mission to ensure that when emergencies such as this happen — because they will happen — everyone has been trained and knows how to save a life. CJ has been an American Heart Instructor for seven years, and after completing 500 certifications, The Dunns opened the Shelbyville Medical Education Center (SMEC) at 118 Public Square E., Suite G, in the Canter Suites building near the Bedford County Courthouse.
“SMEC is an American Heart Association training site, and we are affiliated with the Red Cross. We can accommodate up to five students, plus CJ travels to different locations to teach larger groups as well. It is our sole intention for every single person who takes a CPR class to walk away with the confidence that if they are ever in a situation where CPR is required, they believe in themselves and have the skills to successfully attempt to resuscitate someone. Everyone holds the ability to save a life. You don’t have to be a doctor,” said Courtnie.
SMEC currently offers Basic Life Support training classes, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support, CPR First Aid, and CPR instructor courses. The long-term goal is to expand into a vocational school by the end of this year and to offer medical assistant and phlebotomy classes.
Following the devastating loss of CJ’s brother, Heath Dunn, who died at the young age of 26, the Dunns knew that if lives were going to be saved, then training must be more accessible. When seconds ticking on a clock equal life or death, they hope that other families will never experience a heartbreaking loss like they have.
“CPR training is extremely important to CJ,” said Courtnie. “He teaches others, not just for business purposes, but for personal reasons. When his younger brother died, if he would’ve been with people who knew how to attempt CPR, there’s a possibility that he could have survived. We never know when we will be in a vulnerable position where someone’s life is in our hands.”
The death of CJ’s brother has been a profound challenge. One that, as the years pass, CJ continues to accept rather than work to overcome. But this loss now serves as a reminder that emergency training is vital so that when other emergency situations happen, they will have a much better outcome.
“Losing Heath truly changed CJ, and it has been a challenge for him to ‘accept.’ I don’t like to use the term ‘overcome’ because it is something that neither of us, especially CJ — nor any person that loses a loved one, for that matter — can ever get over. February has been four years since it happened, and some days, it still feels like yesterday. This loss has motivated CJ to dive deep into this business that he holds very near to his heart.”
CJ’s background in the medical field spans over a decade, starting as a phlebotomist and later becoming an X-ray technician. His true passion was discovered when he became a CPR instructor about seven years ago. He also has experience as a director and instructor at a vocational school based in Rutherford County. Courtnie, on the other hand, “stumbled” into her career in the medical field, starting as a scheduler in dermatology. She currently works for Vanderbilt University Medical Center as a senior administrative assistant.
The couple’s complementary skills make them the perfect team. While CJ is hands-on in his approach, Courtnie provides administrative support and manages social media for SMEC. Challenges have marked this new journey, especially for CJ, who transitioned from an 8-5 job to owning and managing the business full time. Together, they have discovered that alongside the freedom that comes with being a business owner, they must also wear many hats — owner, accountant, instructor, and everything in between.
“We have a close friend whose husband is a firefighter, and their daughter had a choking scare,” recalled Courtnie. “She shared with us that she was scared, knowing what might have happened had her husband not been there. She felt powerless. So she hired CJ to teach her and the rest of their family basic life support techniques.”
In the near future, the Dunns plan to open offices across Middle Tennessee, therefore bringing access to lifesaving information to more mothers, fathers, grandparents, neighbors, strangers, and students.
Because, as Courtnie said, “Everyone holds the ability to save a life.” GN
