Pacific Beach Middle School students learn to save lives via CPR

by Cyril A. Reinicke

The American Heart Association and Jewish Community Foundation have provided equipment so Pacific Beach Middle School students can learn life-saving techniques.

“Pacific Beach Middle School was recently awarded $1,500 worth of equipment to augment the CPR component in our Healthcare Literacy class,” said instructor Paul Chen during a recent demonstration of the new instructional materials and equipment.

“This grant provides PBMS with two complete CPR in Schools Kits for the hands-on CPR training of students using mannequins and AED (automatic external defibrillator) Trainer mock-up devices,” Chen said.

Last summer, he gave a presentation to the American Heart Association’s local board of directors to request funding for a training kit to augment the health curriculum.

When approved, PB Middle School received two complete kits, which consisted of 20 inflatable mannequins with audible feedback, 20 AED trainer mock ups, six sets of digital course material, the pumps to inflate the mannequins, along with storage bags and mannequin cleaning supplies, Chen said.

PBMS eighth grader Alex Taylor and seventh grader Ely Rubio demonstrating the CPR techniques they have learned. (Cyril A. Reinicke)

CPR is part of a semester-long “career wheel” taught by three instructors to offer students information on careers in healthcare, finance, design, engineering and media.

Chen teaches the healthcare literacy component. Every three weeks he has two classes of students rotate through. They learn biology, healthcare career options, hands-on CPR and first aid. Within a semester, he teaches approximately 200 students.

During the CPR module, students learn basic heart anatomy along with blood and electric conduction pathways. They learn what CPR can do, what an AED can do and get experience in hands-only CPR and AED use.

During hands-only CPR, students learn how to assess the scene, approach a patient safely, assess their responsiveness and request emergency medical response. If CPR is needed, they assess whether compression-only CPR versus compressions with rescue breathing is needed and how to initiate either technique. They also learn how to use an AED in conjunction with CPR if an AED becomes available and is needed.

Students who successfully demonstrate these skills receive a participation certificate and CPR face shield.