CPR for HS Students Mandated?

[MedicJenna]

Hey Guys and Gals,


I am new to the site but I wanted to get your opinions on whether or not you thought this CPR mandate for HS students was going to go through or not. Is it CPR certification or just training? I'd love to know more from any of you out there in cyberspace. Thanks!


Medic Jenna

 

[CFal]

In Rhode Island training was mandated at part of the State Health and PE curriculum, certification was optional, but most did because it was only $10 for the card. I don't know where you are from but if varies from state to state whether these programs exist.

 

[MedicJenna]

Thanks CFAL, I appreciate your info.

 

[wanderingmedic]

I vote yes. The more educated the public is the better.

 

[DesertMedic66]

When I went through high school (not too long ago) we had to take a class called Health and Safety. CPR was taught and we had to practice on a CPR dummy but certs were not given out and I doubt anyone in my class would remember how to do it 2 weeks after it was taught. Much less would they actually do it.

 

[Household6]

AEDs are becoming common in so many public places, but I always question how many people have the ability to actually use them.. I think people are scared of them, afraid they'll electrocute themselves..

It's great that 911 operators can walk a person through the use of one, but it's not the same.

My oldest (13, he's my guy!) is trained in HCP-CPR, and when we walk into a mall, he'll give me a nudge and a wink when he sees an AED on the wall because he's making a mental note of the location. I think that's a great thing, it something he wouldn't notice if he didn't take the class..

 

[hogdweeb]

AEDs are becoming common in so many public places, but I always question how many people have the ability to actually use them.. I think people are scared of them, afraid they'll electrocute themselves..

It's great that 911 operators can walk a person through the use of one, but it's not the same.

My oldest (13, he's my guy!) is trained in HCP-CPR, and when we walk into a mall, he'll give me a nudge and a wink when he sees an AED on the wall because he's making a mental note of the location. I think that's a great thing, it something he wouldn't notice if he didn't take the class..

do the same thing as him...hope I dont need to know where it is, but ill be damned if i dont know where it is and i need it.

 

[Achilles]

When I went through high school (not too long ago) we had to take a class called Health and Safety. CPR was taught and we had to practice on a CPR dummy but certs were not given out and I doubt anyone in my class would remember how to do it 2 weeks after it was taught. Much less would they actually do it.

Not only that, but people forget important things when they're under stress, I'm sure many high school students would freak if they saw someone lying unconscious on the ground that was caused by booze.

 

[Clipper1]

Not only that, but people forget important things when they're under stress, I'm sure many high school students would freak if they saw someone lying unconscious on the ground that was caused by booze.

Freak out maybe but if the person is still alive and breathing there will be no need for CPR. If you saw them they were able to pull it together enough to call 911.

We have also seen or heard about 5 year olds who remembered what they were taught about calling 911 in an emergency and have saved a family member.

Here was a recent article about a 12 year old.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/...is-mothers-life-by-performing-CPR.html?pg=all

If a teenager has been taught the basics, it might be easier for a dispatcher to talk them through CPR.

Educating the public and giving them the tools such as an AED or even emergency oxygen can be a good thing. Believing only EMTs save lives should be left for the T-shirt companies and their customers.

 

[DesertMedic66]

I agree with general public using and knowing CPR and AEDs but not with the oxygen. Mixing in oxygen delivery with the public doing CPR is more stuff to go wrong.

I am a fan of the new hands only CPR that is being taught and publicized on TV. Compressions are the main focus in CPR (aside from checking your Hs and Ts).

Also since oxygen is considered a drug places would have to work a little harder to get it (need a prescription for it).

 

[Clipper1]

Also since oxygen is considered a drug places would have to work a little harder to get it (need a prescription for it).

Not necessarily and I think that was already covered in another discussion about the FDA's stance on emergency oxygen. It does not mean that everyone with an EMT card should be able buy oxygen OTC for personal use.
But, there are several situations where emergency oxygen is useful such as on dive boats or placed where toxic fumes might be a factor in industry.

The same arguments were used against AEDs just a few years ago. EMTs and Paramedics should also broaden their knowledge for other situations which do require oxygen before condemning its use.

 

[DesertMedic66]

I didn't condem its use. I know that it help be extremely helpful in some cases.

As far as oxygen being available for emergency use for the public to use I see a whole lot of issues. Is someone who is trained on how to use it going to be the only one able to administer it? What kind of security systems are going to be in place to make sure the bottles don't "disappear"? What kind of delivery devices are going to be with it? NC? NRB? Simple Masks? How often is the bottle going to be checked to make sure it still has good pressure?

In your last post you made it sound as if emergency oxygen was going to be everywhere an AED is. So that means shopping malls, casinos, high rises, etc.

 

[Clipper1]

I didn't condem its use. I know that it help be extremely helpful in some cases.

As far as oxygen being available for emergency use for the public to use I see a whole lot of issues. Is someone who is trained on how to use it going to be the only one able to administer it? What kind of security systems are going to be in place to make sure the bottles don't "disappear"? What kind of delivery devices are going to be with it? NC? NRB? Simple Masks? How often is the bottle going to be checked to make sure it still has good pressure?

In your last post you made it sound as if emergency oxygen was going to be everywhere an AED is. So that means shopping malls, casinos, high rises, etc.

We don't know where oxygen will go in the future. AEDs have been around for over 30 years and they still are not in as many places as they should be.

The emergency tanks have a fixed flow of 6 liters.

As for as disappearing, what about AEDs?

I doubt if just anyone is going to swim up to a dive boat and jump on board to give oxygen. It could happen but at 5 to 10 miles off shore, doubtful. The same for running into a factory from the street and finding the emergency tank.

But, besides dive boats and certain industrial areas, you also have PT clinics, dental and chiropractor offices. These areas still may not have emergency O2. Here is an example of the Chiropractor license board for OTC oxygen.
http://www.oregon.gov/OBCE/pdfs/oxygen_policy_nov_06.pdf

There are many situations which could benefit from having emergency oxygen readily available. You are only thinking about the broader public sense when there are so many other places to consider which some form of medical care is done which can have people who are higher risk frequent. Schools also should be included especially with the increasing number of medical needs children.

 

[DesertMedic66]

We don't know where oxygen will go in the future. AEDs have been around for over 30 years and they still are not in as many places as they should be.

The emergency tanks have a fixed flow of 6 liters.

As for as disappearing, what about AEDs?

I doubt if just anyone is going to swim up to a dive boat and jump on board to give oxygen. It could happen but at 5 to 10 miles off shore, doubtful. The same for running into a factory from the street and finding the emergency tank.

But, besides dive boats and certain industrial areas, you also have PT clinics, dental and chiropractor offices. These areas still may not have emergency O2. Here is an example of the Chiropractor license board for OTC oxygen.
http://www.oregon.gov/OBCE/pdfs/oxygen_policy_nov_06.pdf

There are many situations which could benefit from having emergency oxygen readily available. You are only thinking about the broader public sense when there are so many other places to consider which some form of medical care is done which can have people who are higher risk frequent. Schools also should be included especially with the increasing number of medical needs children.

I'm only thinking about the broad public sense because that is what the tread is originally about. it's about the general public knowing CPR (teaching it in high school at least). It's not about should oxygen be found on a dive boat, or inside a factory with a clinic, or a chiropractors office, or in a school (a lot of schools have nurses or some form of medical personnel on site).

Should joe blow be administering oxygen at the local mall because someone is sick? IMHO no.

Should a nurse at a school or a clinic at a factory administer oxygen? IMHO yes.

 

[Clipper1]

Should joe blow be administering oxygen at the local mall because someone is sick? IMHO no.

The regulations which have made emergency O2 available have listed the requirements for availability and training. Check your state and local regulations which are usually available at medical grade oxygen suppliers. The ARC might also have the information if they provide the class. It is better to be informed with the correct information rather than speculating about Joe Blow.

 

[CPRinProgress]

I'm in hs in jersey and we take a class in first aid including CPR. Most people find it stupid especially the 14 of us that are EMTs or training to be one we spend two weeks on CPR. We have AEDs in the school but I don't think anyone would use it if someone went down they would probably laugh until they figured out something was actually wrong and then start freaking out. I'm pretty sure pour school nurse is incompetent to deal with any emergency. The biggest problem is people are afraid to do it as a high schooler, I have performed CPR 4 times with one "partial save" and most people don't think they could do it. But if one person learns and is there when someone goes down it could save their life.

 

[DesertMedic66]

The regulations which have made emergency O2 available have listed the requirements for availability and training. Check your state and local regulations which are usually available at medical grade oxygen suppliers. The ARC might also have the information if they provide the class. It is better to be informed with the correct information rather than speculating about Joe Blow.

Once again still not getting the point haha.