While encountering an emergency situation may be a rare occurrence, it never hurts to be prepared.
In 2013, the state of Texas passed a requirement for all high school students to have basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training at least once before graduating.
Snyder High School students are currently taking CPR classes to meet the requirement.
“We never know when we will be in a situation where we have the opportunity to save someone’s life,” Snyder High School Athletic Trainer Alexandria Marsh said. “The worst thing we can do in a situation like that is nothing. We come in contact with so many people every day. Even though students are in school most of the day surrounded by CPR certified teachers and other professionals, it is important for them to have the knowledge in case they need to help someone outside of the school.”
Students must acquire training with hands-on CPR practice but are not required to be trained in first aid and automated external defibrillator (AED) usage.
“Students are just learning the basics and do not need to be certified,” Marsh said. “It is my job to familiarize them with hand-only CPR in case they are ever in a position where they need to start CPR. My class also teaches students how to use an AED and where they are located around the school. Even something as simple as bringing an AED to the scene can help save someone’s life.”
CPR training has already been useful at the high school, Marsh said.
“Just the other day there was a scary incident with another student, and one of my athletic training students was able to react appropriately because he had the necessary knowledge,” she said.
Marsh said that she is teaching CPR classes during second period this year.
She will continue instructing classes until every student has taken the CPR class and hopes to make it an annual training at the high school.