Students gather around CPR simulators, which are machines used to train people on how to perform proper chest compressions. Photo courtesy of Kaleigh Vickery.
Pressing the chest, an act that can seem so simple, can mean the difference between life and death. Every year, school nurse Allison Westphal hosts a “Press the Chest” event for freshmen and juniors to train them in the basics of CPR and the Heimlich maneuver.
During the first quarter, paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) came together with Westphal to organize the event. This event shows students how to save lives and motivates students to step out of their comfort zone.
“You get to learn something different, and it’s something important since you can save someone’s life,” sophomore Gorian Henderson said.
Knowing the skills needed to administer CPR can be the difference between life and death in the event of an emergency.
“It’s really important because you have the opportunity to save lives,” sophomore Barack Sneed said.
Florida law mandates that high school students have hands-on experience in chest compressions and other life-saving techniques. Florida High offers a program for students to obtain their CPR certification. Once certified, people can legally administer CPR to a person to save a life.
As the “Press the Chest” event comes to a close each year, students leave with more than just knowledge; they leave with a sense of empowerment.