Everyone has watched that episode of Rescue 911 when a small child falls in a pool or a man has a heart attack, then is saved by a helpful bystander using CPR. Health classes at FHS just finished a two week unit about how to handle situations when CPR is needed. Health teacher Mary Critchlow said without a constant supply of oxygen, the human brain can only survive for about six minutes. To help a victim who’s stopped breathing, students need to know when and what to do — and fast. “Statistics say that you will have to perform some CPR skill three times in your lifetime,” said Critchlow. “This is a life skill that is applicable to everyone and the students like it because it is a hands-on learning experience.” If a victim is not breathing, artificial respiration must be started immediately to prevent brain damage from occurring. Artificial respiration is a procedure where a person forcefully exhales air into the lungs of a victim who is not breathing on their own. By forcing air into the lungs of the victim, enough life sustaining oxygen is allowed to reach the brain to enable the person to live. If a victim’s heart is not beating, then CPR (CardioPulmonary Resuscitation) is used. Massaging the heart using CPR techniques keeps blood flowing to the brain and throughout the body. With blood flowing through the body, vital systems are kept in operation and the risk of the victim going into shock is reduced. If the victim did go into shock, the blood flow to the vital organs would be reduced to a point that they cease to function properly, which would lead to death. “You never know when you might be driving down the road and come across an accident,” said junior Derek Nelson. “You will have to help (victims) or they might die.” An obstructed airway occurs is when a piece of food or an object is caught in the esophagus. In these cases, one must use the Heimlich Maneuver to attempt to dislodge the article form the victim’s throat by forcing the air out of the victims lungs and in to the throat. If the victim is already unconscious, the same force is created as the Heimlich Maneuver by straddling the person and pressing upwards on their abdomen. “I think CPR is valuable to learn because a lot of people have younger brothers,” said junior Vanessa Peck. “They could choke or get in to a situation where it would be helpful.” After taking CPR just in a health class, students need to rehearse skills to be completely effective. “It takes 80 times of practice to learn each skill,” said Red Cross CPR instructor Ade Saunier, who taught the course with Critchlow. Students are responding positively to the CPR training because it enables them to help in an emergency. “I think it is good to learn CPR, especially for infants,” said junior Todd Maiden. “Because adults can usually chew and swim.” Saunier wanted to remind citizens in an emergency that doing just the basic CPR skills — like opening an airway or keeping a victim calm — helps more than staying out of the situation. Said Saunier: “Taking the CPR course once is enough to learn that anything you do is better than nothing,” |
