By DAVID CRUZ

Janet Hawkins looks to seize the five boroughs, at least within the realm of CPR training. And she knows a key rule of business: give them what they want.

What’s been lacking is a CPR training school in the Bronx. Few exist in the borough, where the medical sector thrives as the number one job creator. CPR training is a must for nurse practitioners, though Hawkins encourages anyone to take up the same-day certification course.

Hawkins, ever ambitious, knows she must start small, beginning at a storefront at 4068 White Plains Rd. in Wakefield. It’s there where JIC CPR PLUS LLC opened for business over a year ago, with curious passersby visiting the store “no matter how late you stay here.” As far as Hawkins is concerned, everyone is in need of CPR training.

CPR training is essentially Hawkins’ life.  The Jamaican-born entrepreneur spent 20 years as a registered nurse at various hospitals, applying CPR whenever necessary. She also teaches CPR at Lehman College and is known to spout various statistics about the consequences of asphyxiation on a whim (“Every 90 seconds someone dies from a heart attack in the United States”).

For now, it’s just Hawkins, her husband Gregory and some on-call teachers offering daily two-hour CPR lessons utilizing CPR instructional videos and two adult- and infant-size CPR mannequins for demonstrations. Those enrolled will also learn how to use the automated external defibrillator to zap victims to life. “We don’t cut corners,” said Hawkins, adding the business follows strict CPR training guidelines drafted by the American Heart Association.

Over the years, she’s learned how critical CPR training can be. She’s witnessed it in the streets, saving a man’s life through CPR as onlookers could only seek help. “Whoever starts the CPR is the most significant because you have at least 10 seconds to respond, not wasting any time,” said Hawkins.

She’s also seen how vital it is personally. Her asthmatic sister nearly died after suffering an attack. Gregory’s brother died from a fatal heart attack many believed could’ve been prevented using CPR. A sense of obligation soon set in over the need to pass along her knowledge–some of her family members as young as 13 years old know CPR.

Hawkins is keeping the faith on the success of her company. After all, the first three letters of her business speak to that. “JIC means Jesus is in charge, I’m not,” she revealed. “So it’s impossible for me to fail.”

For more information, call (914) 830-9633.

Notes: The print edition mentions Ms. Hawkins opened her business five months ago. It was August 2014.