Seniors get CPR Certified

Several seniors earned certificates in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) last week, having successfully completed both the written and physical tests at the end of the second marking period.

Before the official tests, students had about a month of practice and studying to ensure positive results over the two-day testing period. While some days felt more grueling than others, the overall experience was a good and beneficial one that many thought was well worthwhile.  

CPR certification gives students something they can all learn together which leads to a more enjoyable time. “Learning CPR over the past month was a very enjoyable experience, teaching me valuable skills,” Senior Kevin Aguliar said. 

Knowing how to do CPR is an important and valuable skill; having to perform it is a thing most people would never imagine they would have to do. However, one can not undervalue the importance it holds if the unfortunate situation ever arrives, “It’s better to know how to perform CPR and not have to use it rather than not know in a situation where it is needed,” Aguliar said.

Senior health teacher Kevin Reilly agrees: “Senior health has such a large focus on CPR as we believe it's an invaluable life skill that anyone can master with proper practice. The more people we certify, the safer our community becomes,” he said. 

However, as important of a skill CPR happens to be, not everyone is fortunate enough to learn about it in high school. For example, Lyndhurst high school graduate Alexa Gallo had to wait until she got to college to learn the skill. “I took a mandatory CPR class in college,” she said. 

Fortunately, its importance is continuing to spread throughout communities. “[CPR] certainly is becoming a popular addition to health curriculums,” Reilly said. 

These expansions will do nothing but fill more and more communities with a safer environment knowing that no matter what or where it happens, there is an increased chance that help will soon follow. 

The idea of CPR is a scary one for most people, the fact of knowing someone's own life may be in your hands one day is enough to make almost anyone tremble. But if the unfortunate scenario ever happens to arrive, an important trait is to remain calm and work as if it has happened before. “The most important thing I want my students to leave our CPR unit with is the confidence to act in an emergency situation,” Reilly said. 

Seniors now CPR certified can go out into the real world and even try and help teach people on their own. They have proven  that they can  work under pressure, demonstrate proper form and remain calm in stressful situations.