Octavia's Promise

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us!

We are so thankful that our family is whole and that we get a chance to watch our children continue to grow and make a difference in this world.

Of course - we are also thankful for all of you who have followed our journey, shared our story, swam with us, or learned a truly life-saving skill.

We hope you have a great day spending time with the people who matter the most.

With love and gratitude,
-The Ballert Family

11/24/2025

We have one more scheduled CPR Class for the year - TONIGHT!

Please join us at the Lead Volunteer Fire Department at 5:00pm for an American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR Course.

Learn a truly Life-Saving Skill - focusing on high quality CPR education including Chest Compressions, Breaths, and AED use!

You can register online, shoot us a message here on Facebook, email us at octaviaspromise@gmail.com, give Taylor a call/text (605) 591-9986, or just show up!

We hope to see you there!

11/24/2025

We made an update to our website today! It's minimal, but it needed to be done!

We'd love for you to check it out!

Octavia's Promise is a non-profit dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality first aid and CPR training. Our mission is to empower individuals with essential life-saving skills at little to no cost, ensuring everyone can respond effectively in emergencies.

10/21/2025

Tragedy can strike at any-time, which is why you shouldn't wait to learn a life-saving skill!

CPR is life-saving, and our little girl Octavia is a testament to just that. Without the proper knowledge, training, and the willingness to act - the unthinkable could have happened to our family, which is exactly why we started Octavia's Promise.

Come take a high-quality CPR class with Us. We share real-world experiences and honest conversations about CPR and the successes that it can have. Our next class is in less than one week and we still have spaces available.

Class Information: American Heart Association HEARTSAVER CPR
Class Date: Monday, October 27th, 2025
Class Time: 5:00pm ~ 9:00pm
Class Locaton: Lead Volunteer Fire Department - 622 Hearst Ave. Lead, SD

So don't wait, register now at Octaviaspromise.org

10/18/2025

We're at Black Hills Powersports today until 3pm along with Freshman Impact!

Join us for some High-Quality Hands Only CPR education and try out all the other things that Freshman Impact has to offer - like rides in Pennington County Search and Rescue SHERP vehicle, Static Display, Virtual Driving Simulator, and an Impared Vision Course!

There is a free lunch and an opprtunity to win a 3-Day 2-Night Guided Buffalo Hunt or a Brand New 2025 Kawasaki Side By Side!

We hope to see you so we can keep Saving Lives One Lesson at a Time.

10/03/2025

I was really honored, privileged, and humbled to be invited to participate in Freshman Impact yesterday on behalf of the Lead Volunteer Fire Department along with numerous other emergency response agencies in our area.

Freshman Impact invited around 200 High School Freshman from our region including Lead-Deadwood High School to participate in a series of classes and instructional seminars that focused on the dangers of todays world and some of the response - including drugs, trafficing, dangers of social media, emergency response, and drunk driving.

When students arrived outside they met with Ambulance Staff, Search and Rescue Teams, and Fire Departments each discussing different topics like trauma, extrication, gear, volunteerism - and for me - Hands Only CPR.

While I only had a few minutes with each group, 200 High School Freshman were willing and eager to give Hands Only CPR a chance and so many did so well. Sharing our story and giving them a real scenario that cements that CPR is a LIFE SAVING SKILL gave me an opportunity to be - impactful.

If you or anyone else wants to learn CPR, please reach out to me at (605) 591-9986!

09/24/2025

Could YOU Be a Lifesaver in a Crisis?

Cardiac arrest can hit anywhere—home, school, store, pool, or street. Will YOU be ready when seconds mean survival?

High-Quality CPR TRIPLES survival odds! Octavia’s Promise empowers YOU with life-saving skills through our American Heart Association Heartsaver Course. Expert instructors, real-world training, and hands-on practice ensure you’re prepared.

Why Us?
- Only $30 for a 3-hour course
- Master High-Quality CPR with clear, practical instruction
- Build confidence to act fast in emergencies

Next Class: Monday, September 29th, 2025, 6:00 PM
- Location: Lead Volunteer Fire Department, Lead, SD

Don’t wait for tragedy—act now! Cardiac arrest doesn’t discriminate, but YOU can save a life.

Register at OctaviasPromise.org!

Octavia’s Promise: From Miracle to Mission. Saving Lives One Lesson at a Time.

09/18/2025

Hi everyone! We've been quietly working behind the scenes to provide educational opportunities for our community.

From sharing our mission at local grocery stores to distributing swimsuits, hosting CPR classes, and partnering with the Lead Volunteer Fire Department, we're committed to making a positive impact.

Cardiac arrest can strike anyone, anywhere, regardless of age, health, or circumstance, often without warning. It's a life-threatening emergency that requires immediate action to save lives. That's why we've added a PRESTAN Child manikin to our training equipment, complementing our adult and infant manikins. This allows us to simulate a wide range of real-world scenarios, ensuring participants are prepared for emergencies involving people of all ages. Our mission is to empower our community with the confidence and skills to perform high-quality CPR in a crisis. By providing hands-on training with realistic scenarios, we aim to equip individuals with the knowledge and muscle memory needed to act swiftly and effectively, potentially making the difference between life and death.

Join our next CPR class on Monday, September 29th at 5:00 PM at the Lead Volunteer Fire Department, 622 Hearst Ave, Lead, SD.Spots are still available! Contact us today to register!

07/27/2025

Tomorrow night!

🚨 Could YOU Save a Life in a Crisis? 🚨

Cardiac arrest can strike anyone, anywhere— at home, school, the store, at the pool, or on the street. Will you be ready to act when every second counts?

High-Quality CPR can TRIPLE a person’s chance of survival! At Octavia’s Promise, we’re on a mission to empower YOU with this life-saving skill. Our American Heart Association Heartsaver Course delivers hands-on, real-world training from experienced instructors who’ve saved lives.

🩺 Why Choose Us?
- 3-hour course for only $30
- Learn High-Quality CPR with practical, honest instruction
- Gain confidence to act in an emergency

📅 Next Class: Monday, July 28, 2025, at 5:00 PM
📍 Location: Lead Volunteer Fire Department, Lead, South Dakota

Don’t wait for tragedy to strike—be prepared! Cardiac arrest doesn’t discriminate, but YOU can make a difference.

Register now at OctaviasPromise.Org!

Octavia’s Promise: From Miracle to Mission. Saving Lives One Lesson at a Time.

07/19/2025

💖💗BIG NEWS!💗💖

We just got a fresh batch of new, gorgeous swimsuits, and our amazing model Bexleigh (Ashely Matsamas & Zachery Matsamas) is ready to dive in!

As always, we’re giving away vibrant pink swimsuits for FREE! We currently have sizes 4 to 18!

Know someone who’d love one? Spread the word! Reach out to grab yours:
Asia: (605) 631-0522
Taylor: (605) 591-9986

We’re also planning a fun event soon and working on expanding to infant and adult sizes! Stay tuned for more styles and updates!

07/16/2025

We had Twins!

Just kidding! But we did get two more PRESTAN Infant CPR Manikins to add to our supplies.

Cardiac Arrest does not discriminate and it can happen to anyone at anytime, which is why we feel it's important to teach Adult and Infant CPR.

If you want to learn this Life-Saving Skill, reach out to us or visit our website to see our upcoming classes!

07/15/2025

***Did You Know*** that immediate CPR can TRIPLE the chances of survival following a cardiac arrest?

Can you think of some things of value in your life that you'd like to triple? Money, Time, Vacation? What's more valuable than life itself?

CPR is a LIFE-SAVING skill. We can tell you first hand that it is.

If you want to learn CPR, register now at Octaviaspromise.org for our next class on Monday, July 28th!