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CPR class a necessity in high school
By Elizabeth Lovell, North Cedar freshman
Mar. 24, 2017 11:50 am
CLARENCE - High school seniors can barely wait to graduate, but at North Cedar High School CPR training has to be done first.
In most cases, the seniors don't actually plan on ever using this skill. However, the day might come when the senior will have to come to the rescue.
Last summer, Zach Lovell and Clayton Carstensen, two North Cedar 2016 graduates, got together with some friends to watch the Mechanicsville fireworks show. After enjoying the show, they started walking back to their car when they heard someone yell 'he's not breathing!”
The two ran over to find a crowd of people surrounding Mike Dozer's unconscious body. Everyone was panicking when someone asked if anyone know how to perform CPR.
'At that point my heart started racing and I ran over, got on my knees and began doing compressions, when I looked up and was about to give him breaths I saw that Clayton was kneeling by his head and I told him to give him two breaths,” Lovell said.
Carstensen gave Dozer two breaths while Lovell continued to do compressions. Someone in the crowd called 911 while the CPR was being administered.
'After a while Mike's body started making gurgling noises and his face was turning purple, and I started yelling ‘come on Mike,'” Lovell said.
Someone in the crowd thought Dozer was choking, so they picked him up and administered the Heimlich maneuver. But nothing came out so they sat him down and continued to give him CPR.
'We continued CPR for what seemed like forever until a former EMT arrived and took over the compressions, and I took over breaths,” Lovell said.
Once the ambulance arrived the EMT's took over and loaded Dozer into the ambulance where he later was resuscitated and lived to see another day.
This incident is proof why CPR training is necessary.
CPR training became a requirement to graduate in Iowa during the 2011-12 school year. At any time before the end of 12th grade, every student has to have completed a psychomotor course that leads to certification in CPR.
At North Cedar, seniors take CPR training when the rest of the high school is taking standardized test. A day is set aside for nurse Lee Kline and Scott Kasik to explain the proper procedure for CPR and have students practice on dummies.
'I do believe this is an important course for all students to have, cardiac arrest can occur anywhere and at any time, having this knowledge, whether you are certified or not, can help save a life” Kline said.
Students learn how to perform CPR on adults, children and infants. Seniors also learn choking for adults, children and infants. They also will get information regarding use of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED).