A group of Port Chester High School students gained valuable lifesaving skills when they got certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation June 6. Throughout the training, they were taught how to respond in emergencies, recognize signs of cardiac arrest, how to do CPR, use an automated external defibrillator and help adults, children or infants who are choking.

“Learning CPR is a valuable life-saving skill that can make a difference in an emergency,” said teacher Alexander Miller, who organized the experience for his students. “My hope is that students learned how to respond in an emergency and build a sense of confidence, as well as to see the connections between content they’ve learned in class and how that knowledge is used to help someone.”

The students from Miller’s International Baccalaureate Biology class were trained by certified CPR instructors from the Port Chester-Rye-Rye Brook Emergency Medical Service, led by training coordinator Michael Wellington and three high school interns. They received their certification through the American Heart Association.

Senior Allegra Burke, who has been an EMS for a year and a half and plans on pursuing the medical field beyond high school, said it’s an amazing feeling to be able to save someone’s life.

“Even if it’s making [someone] feel the smallest bit better, it’s always rewarding,” Burke said.

Senior Lennon Anderson, who got certified in CPR by taking the course, reflected on the experience and gaining a valuable life skill of potentially being able to save someone’s life.

“It’s important that you’re able to step in and help someone,” Anderson said. “You never know when these skills will come in handy, and you don’t want to be caught in a moment where you could have saved someone’s life but you didn’t take the course, so you don’t know what to do.”

Click here to view the photo slideshow.

Date Added: 6/12/2024