Learning about hands-only CPR
Academy’s goal: Train everyone in ninth grade
PALMDALE — Students in Highland High School’s Public Service Academy had an ambitious goal: train all 751 ninth-grade students to perform hands-only CPR in one day. They started Thursday morning in the school’s large gymnasium. Each student who completed the training received a certificate.
Approximately 54 CPR training manikins — a torso with a head — were spread out on the gymnasium floor, each with an academy student stationed nearby. The academy students are CPR certified in basic life support and advanced cardiovascular life support.
“Seven hundred kids, that’s a lot of kids, so obviously we’re going to be tired at the end of the day,” Academy senior David Ureno said.
He added they all like to teach and talk to other people and are comfortable teaching other students. The academy students provided valuable, life-saving instruction that could save someone’s life one day.
“If someone falls in front of you, a lot of people just stand there; they don’t know what to do, just call 911,” Ureno said. “Honestly, it takes them like 15 minutes to get there; they would probably be dead. If there was something we could do, it would be better. If someone knew CPR, they could have had a chance at saving them, and that’s why I think it’s good that everyone know CPR because the person that went into cardiac arrest, it gives them another chance to live.”
Asked about common mistakes people make when they perform CPR, Ureno said people do not press down hard enough.
“You shouldn’t be scared to press down,” he said. “What’s worse than being dead?”
Academy senior Kennedy Jones agreed.
“I think it’s really important to teach CPR because it’s a crucial life skill,” Jones said. “You never know when you’re going to go out in public and someone needs help. Even if you’re not a professionally trained EMT or paramedic, it’s still a great skill anyone can get, and if
someone needs help, it’s better to help than do nothing. CPR can significantly improve their chances of living.
“You want to be able to help; it can be scary, but I feel like if someone at least has some formal training they’d be more confident to help and that’s really our main goal here with this program.”
She added they hoped by training the ninth-grade students, they would become more comfortable doing CPR if they are ever in a lifeor-death situation.
Freshman Andrea Lopez wanted to learn how to perform hands-only CPR to save lives.
“Thirty presses each,” she said, followed by two rescue breaths.
Academy coordinator Christy Chacon thought about the mass CPR training on her drive to work one day.
“If you know CPR, you’ll tell somebody else, they’ll tell somebody else and more people will know CPR,” Chacon said.
With Highland High principal Charles Dunn and Antelope Valley Union High School District trustee Donita Winn watching, Chacon drilled the academy students in between classes.
“You want to make sure your scene is …” Chacon said.
“Safe,” the students called out collectively.
After the scene is cleared to be safe, the next step is to check the patient’s responsiveness. Then make sure their hand placement was correct before they start chest compressions.
In April, the academy students will get their certification for pediatric advanced life support.
“So they’re learning nurse, paramedic and physician-level certifications in the academy,” Chacon said.
Chacon borrowed as many CPR training manikins as she could for the ambitious goal.
“I begged, borrowed and stole from a couple of teachers,” she said. “I took PE’s dummies, my dummies, anatomy’s dummies.”
The academy will likely conduct the CPR training once a month until they have all students trained.