From rescue breaths to chest compressions, Red Cross Club members learned critical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills from the American Red Cross after school on Thursday, Jan. 22, in the cafeteria to receive their CPR certification.
The event taught students how to respond during real-life medical emergencies. Two Red Cross professionals guided students through instructional videos and hands-on practice using training manikins.
“I genuinely wanted to attend since they mentioned a CPR workshop,” Aarna Kruthiventi ‘29 said. “I have been wanting to learn CPR for a while. It is a really good skill to have for everyday life. [CPR] acts as a bridge to professional medical care [while] doubling as a tripling survival rate for victims of sudden cardiac arrest.”
Students started their training by learning the correct methods for putting on and removing gloves. After watching videos demonstrating how to give breaths to unconscious individuals, the students practiced on manikins while checking for visible chest rise and fall.
“I felt like I had just the right amount of time to practice on the manikins for mastery of these skills,” Shreya Phillips ‘29 said. “This is a useful skill for my everyday life because things don’t always go as planned, and we should always be prepared to help out in any way we can.”
Afterward, students watched a video depicting the proper technique for hand placement, rhythm, and appropriate depth of the chest compressions. Following practice with the training dummies, students finished the session by running through a practice emergency scenario where they were tested on their technique.
“I felt like we had enough time, but practicing individually with our own manikins would give everyone better experience than working in groups,” Joan Amalraj ‘27 said. “In the future, I would really love for the club to offer training in first aid for serious injuries, like how to stop heavy bleeding, treat burns, and help someone in shock. These are situations that can be scary, and knowing what to do would help people stay calm and act quickly.”
The training provided students with necessary hands-on experience for emergency situations, allowing them to feel confident helping people. The event left attendees with a CPR certification and a greater understanding of how their actions can make a difference when needed.
“CPR is a powerful and life-changing skill because you never know when an emergency will happen or when someone will need your help,” Amalraj said. “In those critical moments, having the ability to act can mean the difference between life and death. Knowing CPR gives you the power to step forward instead of standing by, to bring hope instead of fear, and to offer a second chance at life.”
