Community Service and Outreach
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Massive CPR training at local school breaks records
Records were broken on Thursday, Oct. 26, as over 800 students from Chapman Heights Elementary School received Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training.
Students from kindergarten to fifth grade were trained in a hands-only CPR by instructors, staff and volunteers from Life Support Education, Loma Linda University’s medical simulation center and local city firefighters.
“This event was the first in the region and maybe in the nation. The partnership with Chapman Heights Elementary is part of a larger initiative originated by Richard Hart, MD, DrPH, president of Loma Linda University Health to train 50,000 students by 2020 in CPR basics,” said Louis Kelly, AHA instructor and BLS instructor coordinator at Life Support Education.
The collaboration began when Kelly contacted Chapman Heights Elementary Principal, Andy Anderson, and proposed an opportunity to teach students these basic life saving skills.
“We wanted to teach our kids to save a life and challenge others in our nation to do the same,” continued Kelly.
“Thank goodness for Mr. Kelly and his spirit to involve our students in this program,” said Anderson.
The governor of California signed into law Bill AB-1719 that required all high school graduates to be trained in CPR. According to the American Heart Association, each year over 325,000 people have experienced cardiac arrest, with not even a third receiving CPR.
“Though these kids are small, we are teaching them the skills and know how to tell an adult how to do CPR if needed,” said Kelly, event organizer.
In celebration of Red Ribbon Week, Yucaipa Mayor Dick Riddell attended the festivities.
Riddell spoke with the students, teachers and staff, acknowledging a job well done on their CPR training.
Other special guests included, Cali Binks, superintendent, Eric Vreeman, EdD, assistant superintendent for educational services, Patricia Ingram, Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District board president and David Lopez, EdD, RCP, RRT, department chair of cardiopulmonary sciences at LLU School of Allied Health Professions.
Mayor Riddell presented Lopez with an honorary certificate on behalf of the city in recognition of LLU’s commitment to educate and help local communities in health care safety.
When asked how the students responded to their new training, Cindi Crosby, PTA president said they were real receptive to it, energetic and excited. “I hope they can take what they learned and apply it whenever needed,” Crosby said.
During instruction, one student said she’s been practicing CPR on her stuffed animal.
“It’s simple easy steps to lean and CPR is valuable to learn at any age. We just need to expose it more to the public and our children,” said Caroline Baek, RN, MSN, LLU Medical Simulation Center.
“This was Mr. Kelly’s idea. It’s currently our red ribbon week. We love instilling making healthy decisions to all of out students. This is an opportunity to possibly save a life. Today they learned basic skills on how to help anyone in an emergency situation. This is an excellent school wide activity,” concluded Principal Anderson.
The basic instruction was given in three steps. Step one, was to assess the patient. Next, if need-be, have someone nearby call 911. The third step was to give compressions until help arrives.
At the end of the CPR instruction, students received stickers for a job well done.