Seventh graders at Hilton’s Merton Williams Middle School are learning skills that could someday save someone’s life. As part of their health curriculum, the students are learning American Red Cross First Aid, CPR and AED training, and can become certified in all three after passing the skills test.
In its first year, the training is made possible thanks to Megan Conway, Claire Drexler and Anna Murrer, middle school health teachers, becoming American Red Cross certified state instructors. Once the teachers became certified, the school district purchased three sets of equipment that each include an adult manikin, child manikin and automated external defibrillator (AED). The teachers also have access to resources for the entire course, including instructional videos.
Students are learning how to respond to a variety of medical emergencies until medical professionals arrive, including administering an EpiPen, performing abdominal thrusts for choking, and stopping severe bleeding. The cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training is giving students the information and the skills they need to help adults, children and infants during breathing and cardiac emergencies. And they are learning how – and when – to use an AED.
“This is a really good unit to be learning,” said Elio Conway. “Otherwise, if a family member or child fell and was injured, how are we supposed to know how to keep them alive?”
“The training helps motivate people to take action when there is an emergency and makes our community a safer place,” said Ayden Jarvis.
Drexler said that the goal is to have every seventh grader certified by the end of May. The eight-hour training normally takes two weeks, but with in-person classes limited due to the hybrid scheduling, the training is taking five to six weeks. Students must pass both written and skills based tests to become certified. The usual $40 fee is reduced to $5, which the district is funding. Once the student passes, they receive their certification card through email and can have it laminated in the school library.
“The certification is for two years, so our vision is to offer the recertification training in ninth and eleventh grades,” said Drexler.
“This is something everyone should learn,” said Catarina Umbrino. “If you don’t, it could cost someone’s life. You never know, one day you may have to save someone.”
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