According to the American Heart Association, around 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen per year in the United States alone. These unfortunate incidents can happen to anyone, regardless of age or gender.
Even though studies show that the risk of SCA among young students is lower, incorporating this life-saving technique in school curriculums will teach younger generations to help those at risk of sudden cardiac arrest.
In this article, we will dive into the benefits of teaching young hearts CPR, as well as ways of introducing CPR to school curriculums.
The Need for CPR Education for Young Students
Life-threatening emergencies can happen anytime, and knowing how to respond properly can make a huge difference. By providing first help to a victim suffering from SCA, you can increase their survival chances.
Even though in the past, CPR has been perceived as a life-saving skill for grown-ups and healthcare professionals, right now, it’s become clear that introducing CPR to school curriculums is a must. Teaching students from a young age about how they can help an OHCA (out-of-hospital cardiac arrest) case doubles the chances of survival.
Introducing CPR to School Curriculums
Children can learn fast and absorb new information, so it is important to feed them information and techniques that can save lives. To learn CPR and use it effectively, they need to be gradually introduced to the concepts of the technique from their earliest school days.
Authorities and schools, as well as a team of professionals like psychologists, pediatricians, and CPR educators, should prepare a long-term strategy and guidelines for approaching this matter.
This way, students can easily engage in CPR education and understand its steps, purpose, and advantages. With continuous education, they will be aware of the risks and be confident to help in critical situations. Encouraging young people to perform CPR is getting a step closer to a better society in Newark.
Delivery of High-Quality Programs
For a successful implementation of CPR education, teaching programs must be modified and designed for every student. Delivering high-quality CPR programs for young students requires a specialized approach that considers their needs, abilities, and developmental stages.
How to Teach CPR to Kids
Teaching students CPR is a vital skill that can empower them to react quickly and effectively in emergencies. Before introducing CPR to school curricula, it is important to adapt the teaching techniques and program according to students’ age and comprehension levels. Here are some steps on how to teach CPR to young hearts.
Prepare CPR Materials Appropriate for Their Age
Choose age-appropriate CPR training materials, such as videos, books, or online resources, specifically designed for children.
Start With Basic Concepts of CPR
Start by explaining the basic concepts of CPR in a simple way that is easy for them to memorize. Explain why CPR is important and what the benefits are.
Use Simple Language
Use clear language that children can easily understand. Avoid medical terms and complex terminology that are still not part of their vocabulary.
Interactive Learning
Make the learning process interactive. Encourage students to be curious and participate in discussions. Find interesting examples that will motivate them to learn CPR. You can prepare interactive games and role-playing scenarios to help kids understand when and how to use CPR.
Practice on Manikins
Let the children practice chest compressions and rescue breaths on manikins to get a feel for the technique. These practical exercises can be done through games for younger groups.
Simplify the Steps
For the majority of young students, the CPR technique is a completely new thing and needs to be presented in a way that is easy to understand. To do so, it is really important to break down the CPR technique into simple steps to help kids remember it faster and use it efficiently.
Encourage Regular Practice
None of the mentioned segments can be achieved without the regular practice of CPR techniques. For the long-term effects of CPR education, the life-saving skills require practice to be retained. Therefore, kids should be encouraged to regularly review what they’ve learned and practice it with their friends at school with the help of the teachers.
Reassure and Support
Emphasize that CPR is a valuable skill and that they should only use it in a real emergency. Educate them that their actions can make a difference and save people’s lives.
Challenges and Obstacles for Students When Learning CPR
Teaching CPR is an important and potentially life-saving skill that should be part of every school. Even though it is not complicated to learn this technique, it can still be quite challenging for younger students. We must address these obstacles to help them overcome the challenges of learning and performing CPR.
Here are some of the most common challenges that young students face when performing CPR.
Stress
Students may feel anxious, overwhelmed, or afraid of hurting the victim. This is normal, especially during the early stages of CPR education. Instructors should emphasize the importance and benefits of CPR to help young students overcome this problem. Kids need to know that by helping the victim, they are not just responsible citizens but true heroes.
Fear of Making Mistakes
In many cases, students are afraid that they will cause harm to the victim or that they will not do the technique properly. This is a common problem among adults, and it can be solved by learning the CPR technique properly, together with emotional support from the instructors.
Learning the Proper Technique
Learning how to perform the CPR technique properly is a top priority among students. They must remember the depth and rates of the compressions, as well as the hand placement.
Emotional Impact
There are times when young students have witnessed or responded to an emergency. Depending on the severity of the emergency situation and their age, it can emotionally impact them. Also, even if they have never witnessed an emergency situation, students can get stressed just by watching the pictures.
In such cases, it’s essential to give them the appropriate emotional support and explain the advantages of CPR.
Time Pressure
Because one of the CPR core postulates is the importance of reacting immediately in a case of emergency, students sometimes feel pressure and doubt that they won’t be timely and efficient during an emergency. Similar to the other challenges, instructors should encourage students to practice more on manikins and on real-life simulations to overcome this issue.
Coordination and Teamwork
In many cases, students will need to perform CPR as part of a team, especially in school settings. For those students who are socially anxious, this can cause additional stress and potentially block them from performing CPR according to the rules.
Benefits of Introducing CPR to School Curriculums in Newark
Introducing CPR into school curriculums in Newark offers many benefits, not only for students but for the entire community. These are the benefits:
- Early Intervention – One of the biggest benefits of teaching CPR in schools is the potential for early intervention. Children and students are often present in situations where SCA occurs, such as at home, school, public areas, or sporting events. Equipping them with the necessary CPR skills means they can take immediate action before medical professional help arrives, increasing the victim’s chances of survival.
- Empowerment– CPR education empowers students with the knowledge to respond effectively in emergencies. It boosts their confidence to step in and potentially save a life. Instead of feeling helpless, young students become capable and proactive responders.
- Lifesaving Potential – Teaching CPR in schools is important because it prepares students for various life-threatening situations. By introducing CPR education to school curriculums, we are increasing the number of bystanders who will be prepared to respond in a case of emergency.
- Community Impact – Students with a CPR education can also educate their family members and friends, which helps build a more resilient and safe society.
- Health Education – Incorporating CPR into schools is an opportunity to educate students about cardiovascular health, risk factors for SCA, and the importance of a healthy lifestyle. This knowledge can help prevent cardiac events in the long run.
Conclusion
Introducing CPR education to school curriculums is an initiative that empowers students with the skills to respond efficiently in case of emergencies. By teaching the young hurts of Newark how to save lives, we create a generation of confident and capable lifesavers who can make a significant impact on society as a whole.