Project Description
The funds from this grant would be used to purchase 1 Heartsaver First Aid, CPR, AED DVD Set, 7 Heartsaver First Aid student workbooks, 7 CPR, AED student workbooks, and 1 “baby Annie” CPR manikin for use in an elective class which will teach CPR to both students and staff at the West Tisbury School. The American Heart Association (AHA) has updated their CPR guidelines and I would like to train both students and staff in these new guidelines.
To teach this course I need these required materials. I cannot teach this course using the outdated AHA guidelines or workbooks. In February of 2016 I successfully completed the Heartsaver Instructor course so I am now certified to teach these new CPR guidelines. The changes to the CPR guidelines include changes in compression rates, compression depth and other significant changes in ways to administer CPR. There are also significant changes in First Aid training for chest pains, and treating anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction). I find it especially important to train students and teachers with the updated allergic reaction guidelines, as there are so many students with severe allergies (peanut, tree nuts, eggs, bee stings, wasp stings, etc). I would like to train small groups of students during their elective period (for this year and many years to come) and also train staff during our professional development time.
How will the project be evaluated (e.g. how will you gauge its success)
This CPR course could potentially save a life. Students and teachers will be able to administer CPR if necessary to anyone during school hours or at home. Students and teachers will be officially certified to administer CPR and be First Aid certified by the American Heart Association. After successfully completing this course, students should be able to:
-List the priorities, roles, and responsibilities of a rescuer providing first aid to a child or an infant
-Describe the four key steps in first aid for children and infants: prevent, protect, assess, and act
-Describe the assessment and first aid actions for the following life-threatening conditions: difficulty breathing, choking, severe bleeding, and shock
-Control bleeding and bandage wounds
-Correctly remove protective gloves
-Use an epinephrine pen
-Recognize elements of common injuries and illnesses
-Recognize the legal questions that apply to pediatric first aid rescuers
-Describe how high-quality CPR improves survival
-Explain the concepts of the Chain of Survival
-Recognize when someone needs CPR, and perform high-quality CPR for an infant, child, or adult (adult CPR module is optional)
-Give effective breaths by using mouth-to-mouth or a mask for all age groups
-Demonstrate how to use an AED on a child or an adult (adult AED module is optional)
-Describe when and how to help a choking infant, child, or adult.
These skills are invaluable.
Benefit to the students and the school
The school will have students and staff who are trained in the new, updated, current American Heart Association CPR and First Aid guidelines. For those students who suffer from asthma or allergies there will be teachers (and other students) close by that are currently trained in the new AHA guidelines for both CPR and First Aid. In case of emergency, we should be able to handle a situation more quickly and sufficiently. The students involved will be empowered with new life saving knowledge that they will take home with them. With these materials I will be able to certify students/staff this year and for years to come. Upon successful completion of the course, including a first aid skills demonstration and a CPR and AED skills test, students receive a Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR AED course completion card that is valid for two years. The potential benefit is enormous and perhaps life-saving.
Timeline of Project (when will you do the project, if applicable)
I will begin this course with students as soon as I get this material. I will teach the staff at the next available professional development meeting.
