Saving A Student's Life Using CPR

Saving A Student's Life Using CPR

When a freshman from Colonia High School collapsed during a basketball game, Blevins, Root, Roma, Banos and Scarpa came together quickly, calmly and efficiently to help save that student’s life. Tim and Chris sprang into action as the child collapsed while Mark ran to get the school’s AED. Chris spoke to the 911 operator and ensured help was on the way while Tim started care on the student.

Next, Mark arrived with the AED. After hooking up the AED, it was determined that a shock was needed. Tim opened the student’s airway when John continued aid to the student after the shock was administered. Rob addressed the other needs, making sure to secure the area by clearing the benches and entire gym while ensuring that the crowd remained calm and orderly so that emergency personnel could have easier access to the scene. Thanks to their quick response, their effort in activation and completing the Chain of Survival, the student is healthy and back in school.

In January 2012, the Monroe Township Police Department, along with the Williamstown Fire Company, were lacking in first responder training. Seeing this need, Detective Derrick Jacobus decided to take action. Thanks to his efforts, which included hundreds of hours of effort, every provider in the police department and fire departments is now certified in CPR and First Aid.

Jacobus also attacked the growing heroin epidemic by promoting the need for community CPR training in addition to relying on Narcan to respond to an overdose emergency. Jacobus secured additional funding through meetings with the mayor and administration to purchase 11 new AEDs to be available for an emergency at any given time.

Additionally, the department switched from individual officer first aid kits to standard department-issued first aid bags. Since September 2014, officers have 41 successful resuscitations from overdoses. Jacobus didn’t limit offering training to just his fellow officers and fire responders. He also has volunteered his time to certify over 100 Boy Scouts of America’s Law Enforcement Explorers in CPR.

The American Heartsaver Recognition Program is an initiative supporting the American Heart Association’s efforts to strengthen the Chain of Survival in our communities as an effort to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans while reducing death and disability from heart disease and stroke by 20 percent by the year 2020.

Anyone can learn CPR and everyone should. Visit www.heart.org/handsonlyCPR for a short instructional video that could help save a life.