The American Heart Association donated CPR equipment to help teach the life-saving skill to students at Benjamin E. Mays High School.
Atlanta Public Schools was presented with new CPR and First Aid Anytime Training kits from Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and the American Heart Association for all 17 high schools (11 traditional, 6 charter or partner schools) to help fulfill the CPR in Schools graduation requirement and create a new generation of lifesavers.
“This is a real skill that many people in the world need to be able to interact or react to dangerous situations or situations that someone may be in that needs some support,” Mays High School principal Ramon Garner said. “I feel really good to have students that I can send out to assist in those types of situations.”
Mays High School health and physical education teacher Natasha Harrigan led a small group of students through a brief CPR class using the tools provided in the new kit. The students were able to watch an instructional video and practice the life-saving technique on mannequins.
“It’s a great opportunity for our students to have a lifelong skillset to be able to try and save someone’s life,” Harrigan said.
Donald Addison, an 11th grade student at Mays, became a lifeguard last summer and was encouraged to know that his classmates will also have access to CPR training.
“The training helps us because if something happens at the school, there will be more people who know how to do CPR,” Addison said. “When a live situation is happening, we can help someone out while 911 is coming.”
Schools that participate in the American Heart Association’s CPR in Schools program are equipped with a CPR in Schools Kit, which includes 10 Mini Anne Plus® inflatable manikins, practice-while-watching training DVDs, AED training simulators, a Facilitator Binder that contains lesson plans, replacement face masks and other materials to help ensure a successful and educational program.
“It is so important for kids to have these skills as they get older,” APS health and physical education coordinator Myss Johnson-Jelks said. “This gives them the skills they need to save a life and gives them the skills necessary to get certain jobs, whether it’s babysitting or being a lifeguard. These skills are super important because you never know when you may need to save a life.”
The power to save lives now rests in the hands of APS scholars, and the significance of this CPR training reverberates beyond the school walls.
The third, fourth and fifth graders at Humphries Elementary School recently raised funds to support the American Heart Association by showing off their jump roping skills. They raised a total of $100.00 which will be donated to cardiovascular research and education in an effort to help save lives in the community and across the country.
This event was sponsored by Debbie Akbar, physical education teacher at Humphries. “We had fun exercising our heart to enhance our level of physical fitness,” Akbar said. “It was harder than we thought it would be, but it was lots of fun!”
Sutton Middle School and Warren T. Jackson Elementary became the third and fourth schools in APS to earn bronze medal National Recognition Awards from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. They were two of only 11 Georgia schools to be so honored. The medals are awarded to schools for their wellness efforts, from nutrition to exercise. The schools joined Morningside Elementary and Burgess-Peterson Academy, which won bronze medals last year. The Alliance is a partnership between the William Jefferson Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association.
Sutton Principal Audrey Sofianos pointed to two major factors in winning the award: forming a wellness committee that included students, and the leadership of Sutton Academic Dean Michelle Bouldin. The school held a Friday “dance day” for a couple minutes at the end of the announcements to spotlight the school’s commitment to fitness. Sutton also held Wellness Days in which children participated in active, healthy movement-oriented activities, such as yoga and hip-hop dance. The school also featured classes that focused on nutrition and positive mental health and attitude.
In September we reported on how proud we were of Morningside Elementary being given a bronze National Recognition Award from the Alliance for a Healther Generation — along with fellow APS member Burgess-Peterson Academy. (Check out that announcement here.)
Now we’ve got the letter from an ex-president to prove it! The staff at Morningside was kind enough share the congratulations letter from former President Bill Clinton. The Alliance is a partnership between the William Jefferson Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association, and he was high in his praise of the school:
This accomplishment reflects a high level of commitment to creating a healthier school environment and a huge amount of work on your part. I am gratified to know that people in your community are making such great strides toward fostering student and staff health. As I am sure you know the Healthy Schools Program has set rigorous standards for recognition, and by earning this award, your school has become a leader in a critical endeavor.