Devon Prep Sophomores Learn to Save Lives
All 63 members of Devon Prep’s sophomore class were recently trained in the American Heart Association’s CPR course. The Class of 2011 learned the Chain of Survival and the important part they can play in helping victims of “sudden death” survive long enough to receive treatment with advanced techniques.
Hands-on experience, film and lectures were used to teach the signs and signals of heart attack, stroke, and foreign body airway obstruction (choking). The students learned to evaluate breathlessness and pulselessness enabling them to know when to use CPR and abdominal thrusts (also known as the Heimlich maneuver).
The hands-on lessons were demonstrated on two types of mannequins, an adult torso and a baby, in order to learn how to perform these life saving skills on people of different sizes. In addition they learned how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
Devon Prep’s School Nurse Mrs. Denise Gavin conducted the CPR training with several other trained medical personnel. “Only 20% of sudden deaths are resuscitated,” Mrs. Gavin explained. “That 80% is where these young people can make a difference. They can do enough to get the person to advanced care.”