Learning life-saving skills has readied Lucy to assist those in need
Adele. Nirvana. Backstreet Boys. Drake. Bruno Mars. Queen. Aretha Franklin.
What do these musicians have in common? Each one sings a song with the correct rhythmic beat to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a.k.a. CPR.
Getting the CPR chest compressions right is one thing Lucy learned in her Grade 9 Physical Education class. This year, she and her classmates fulfilled all the necessary training to receive certification in Emergency First Aid.
“Our instructor told us that everything we’ve seen about CPR on TV is wrong,” says Lucy. “Don’t trust the medical shows.”
Students were shown the proper way to perform CPR: where to place their hands on the body, when to breathe into the mouth and how to keep the beat of the chest compressions. “It was a cool experience, although the practice dummies were a bit creepy,” she jokingly adds.
Learning the basics of First Aid
Besides CPR, the class learned the basics of First Aid. Treating simple puncture wounds. Steadying someone who’s convulsing. Helping with respiratory issues.
“Knowing what I know now, I’m better able to respond when those situations come up,” says Lucy. “This training put things in perspective for me and prepared me to stay calm and not freak out.”
The training also addressed the bystander effect—where people respond as spectators not helpers when someone is hurt. “I want to be that person who takes action, sets an example and helps out,” she says.
Empowered to help
“Some people might think, ‘Should I be helping? What if I hurt the person more? What do I do?’” she adds. “This First Aid course taught me to put those questions aside so I can help the person properly. Maybe even taking someone from a dangerous place to help them stay alive.”
‘Be prepared.’ That time-worn but proven Scout motto highlights the reason why students learned First Aid in their physical education class. “It’s all part of being a good citizen and gaining skills I think everyone should have,” says Lucy. “If I ever have to do CPR or treat a wound, I can hopefully offer some assistance.
“Even if the scene is messy and a bit ugly, I want to take a moment to step aside, calm down, then go help the person in need, seeing their life as valuable and worth saving.”
“High school has opened my eyes to a bigger world. I’ve always enjoyed learning, but I have a new appreciation for it now. The more I learn about the Lord, the more I learn about everything around me.”
