Early College High School students are now equipped with skills needed to save a life. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training was provided to all students on campus. The all-day event took place on Thursday, August 28 in 45-minute sessions at the Texas State Technical College Cultural Arts Center and ECHS.
Students learned proper CPR procedures from HCISD’s Coordinator of Health and Wellness Luis Solorio, Nurse Denise Sherman-De Leon, and Physical Education Coach Isabel Jimenez.
“Students took a pretest before the training, watched a step-by-step video, took a posttest, and then they performed hand compressions on CPR manikins,” Solorio said. “All students are required, by law, to receive training on CPR by the time they are seniors.”
Last year, the Texas Legislature passed HB 897, to require that the State Board of Education include instruction in CPR for students in Grades 7-12. The legislation also requires school districts to provide instruction in CPR and for students to receive the CPR instruction at least once before graduation.
“We want to be sure that our students have the skills needed to be of service to others in time of need, and knowing CPR basics could assist our students in one day saving the life of a family member or friend,” said ECHS Principal, Angel Paxton.
According to the American Heart Association, many people who suffer cardiac arrest do not receive CPR at the right time; in fact, only 32 percent receive CPR from a bystander. Nearly 383,000 people suffer cardiac arrest outside of a hospital every year, and 88 percent cardiac arrests occur at home. Unfortunately, less than eight percent of people who suffer cardiac arrest outside the hospital survive.
“We are proud of the fact that only 3 students missed the training that day and will be given the training at an upcoming session so that 100% of ECHS students will have the CPR skills needed. Our staff will also be trained later in September,” said Paxton.
To find a CPR course near you, click here.
