By AMY DAVIS
The Progress
A Virgin Valley homeschool group gathered in Mesquite last week to learn the lifesaving skills of CPR. Local resident Denise Houston arranged for nurse and certified American Red Cross CPR instructor Erika Garret to teach the class free of charge on Thursday, Sept. 3.
With 12 preteen and teen students in the class, Garret taught about chest compression CPR and what to do if someone is choking. The two-hour class allowed students to practice on adult and infant dummies. Todd Leavitt from ACE Hardware donated the use of a building space for the class.
To help the kids learn the correct rhythm and count compressions in the process, Garrett played “Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees. She explained that studies show that med students and physicians who were trained to do compressions while listening to the song helped maintain the ideal rhythm of 100-120 compressions per minute.
Houston organized the event to keep the kids prepared for anything in the current COVID-19 world.
“With the pandemic and all the kids at home alone tending younger siblings it got me thinking: Are our kids prepared for the unexpected?” Houston said.
She pointed out that whether kids are babysitting, playing sports, out on a river or on an ATV ride, they should know what to do in an emergency.
“When I asked my dear friend of 20 years to come and teach the class, she didn’t hesitate,” Houston said.
The class was divided into teams of two with one CPR dummy per group. They were taught the basics of “hands on” CPR.
“Erika even gave them a lesson on the heart and what physically happens to the body during a heart attack,” Houston said.
Garrett described her enthusiasm for CPR education. “I am passionate about CPR and believe that even young kids should know what to do in case of an emergency situation,” she said.
When Garret was just 15 years old her best friend needed CPR and Garret didn’t know how to give it.
“The feeling of not knowing how to help and being unprepared has stuck with me my whole life,” she said. “It is the reason I became a nurse. I don’t ever want anyone to feel helpless should they find themselves in the same situation. I am passionate about helping others become prepared for an emergency, even at the age of 12.”
Houston said she just wanted the kids to be empowered by knowledge; the knowledge of how to react and what to do in an emergency.
“I want them to know that they did everything they could in a difficult situation.” Houston said.
“I had such a great time being a part of this class,” Houston added. “I even shed a few tears watching these kids learn how to save lives! At the end of the day, we had ‘in the know kids’ and I had a happy heart.”
