Some firefighters in Norwalk spent part of their Valentine's Day trying to save a few hearts via free CPR training.

When it comes to performing CPR, the sooner the better, meaning you can't always wait for medical professionals to arrive. That's why firefighters were at Norwalk City Hall, offering the free training to employees or anyone else who stopped by. Instructors say simply increasing awareness is the first step.

Firefighters say people are often afraid they're going to hurt someone or improperly perform CPR. But with a little basic training, they say you won't make the situation any worse.

For nonprofessionals, Norwalk EMS recommends sticking with hands-only CPR, without rescue breaths.

According to the American Heart Association, early CPR can nearly double the chances of survival for someone in cardiac arrest.