The Life-Saving Importance of CPR Training in Schools

1
The Life-Saving Importance of CPR Training in
Schools
2
Every year, more than 350,000 Americans
experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital,
and approximately 90 of them die. Cardiac arrest
is a leading cause of death in the US, and time
is of the essence in responding to it. When a
person goes into cardiac arrest, their heart
stops beating, and blood flow to the brain and
other organs ceases. Permanent brain damage and
death can occur within minutes unless CPR is
started immediately. Given the high incidence
of cardiac arrest and the critical need for
prompt intervention, it's no wonder that the
American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that
high school students be trained in CPR before
graduation. CPR is a simple and effective
technique that can be learned quickly and easily,
and it can save lives.
3
Studies have shown that training young people in
CPR can significantly increase survival rates for
cardiac arrest victims. In one study published in
the journal Circulation, researchers found that
in communities where high school students were
trained in CPR, bystander CPR rates increased
from 28 to 72, and survival rates for
out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients increased
from 8.4 to 10.4. While these may seem like
modest increases, they can translate to hundreds
or even thousands of lives saved each year. But
it's not just students who benefit from CPR
training in schools. Faculty, school
administrators, and staff can also play a
critical role in responding to cardiac
emergencies. They may be supervising a physical
education class or a school event where a medical
emergency occurs, and the ability to perform CPR
can make all the difference in the outcome for
the individual experiencing the emergency.
4
In addition, CPR training can help to create a
culture of preparedness and safety within
schools. When faculty, administrators, and staff
are trained in CPR, they are better equipped to
respond in the event of an emergency and can
serve as role models for students. This can
ultimately lead to more people in the school
community being prepared to respond in an
emergency situation. There have been many
instances where CPR has been used to save the
life of a student in a US school. For example, in
2019, a high school student in Florida collapsed
during track practice and had a cardiac arrest.
Two coaches who were trained in CPR quickly
sprang into action, performing chest compressions
until emergency medical services arrived. Thanks
to their prompt and effective use of CPR, the
student survived and was able to return to school
a few weeks later.
5
While not every instance of cardiac arrest can be
resolved with CPR, the technique is a critical
component of the chain of survival for cardiac
emergencies. The chain of survival consists of
four components early recognition and activation
of the emergency response system, early CPR,
rapid defibrillation, and effective advanced life
support. By training students, faculty,
administrators, and staff in CPR, schools can
help to ensure that the early CPR component of
the chain of survival is in place. To get
started with CPR training, the American Heart
Association offers a variety of courses for
students and faculty to learn the technique. The
AHA Heartsaver CPR AED course is designed for
anyone with little or no medical training who
needs to learn CPR and how to use an automated
external defibrillator (AED) in case of an
emergency. The course covers adult and child CPR
and AED use, as well as how to respond to choking
emergencies. For those who need more advanced
training, the AHA offers the Basic Life Support
(BLS) course, which is designed for healthcare
professionals and covers CPR for adults,
children, and infants, as well as the use of AEDs
and other life-saving techniques. By taking these
courses, students and faculty can gain the skills
and knowledge they need to respond effectively in
a cardiac emergency.
6
In conclusion, the importance of CPR training in
schools cannot be overstated. With the right
training and preparation, lives can be saved, and
positive outcomes can be achieved even in the
face of a medical emergency. By promoting CPR
training to both students and adults in schools,
we can create safer and more prepared school
communities that can respond effectively to
cardiac emergencies. Let's work together to
create a future where every school is equipped
with life-saving CPR training.