High Schools and CPR - A Matter of Life and Death

Three hundred people die from cardiac arrest each day while students spend their day in high school classes. Furthermore, about 900 people in the United States die from cardiac arrest every day, making it the largest cause of death among Americans. One of the easiest ways to reduce the number of deaths cardiac arrest claims is to train more people how to give CPR and how to use Automatic External Defibrillators (AED). Teenagers comprise a large group of the population that are often uneducated on these skills. Preparing the next generation through CPR/AED training is quite literally a matter of life and death.

While many schools do offer CPR training to their high school students, most have not made it mandatory to take such courses. What keeps schools from training these valuable skills to their students? Often, class periods are not long enough to teach CPR courses, which typically last at least four hours. Another setback schools often encounter is a lack of sufficient funds to train each and every student. The good news is that these obstacles can be overcome by the use of new training materials designed to reduce the cost and time it takes to train students in CPR/AED. For example, the American Heart Association provides CPR training in schools. Heartsaver CPR In Schools, provided by the AHA, is a great course that is taught by certified instructors on-site at schools. Students learn how to give CPR and use an AED by practicing with a video and following along in workbooks. For more information about this course, contact the American Heart Association.

Another option is using online CPR training classes. These courses are a great method for implementing affordable student CPR/AED training in schools. While there are several online CPR/AED courses on the market, you will want to choose one that provides a no-hassle method of training, by overseeing the entire process from start to finish. These courses should be created and conducted by an AHA or Red Cross certified trainer who can communicate with students that have questions. Keep in mind the overall package when considering a CPR/AED online course. Some online trainers will make the process easier on educators than others, by providing affordable rates, grading the student work, and even sending the reports to the appropriate teachers.

With hundreds of people dying daily from cardiac arrest, schools should be held responsible for providing the basic training needed to help in the midst of a medical crisis. It is my hope that within the next five years all high schools will require students to pass a CPR/AED course. By following this plan we can minimize the effect of cardiac arrest in future generations, and lessen the amount of people affected by this disease every day. If we train students today they can save lives tomorrow. You can help by contacting your local high school today and let them know how important you think it is to train teenagers in these life-saving skills.