Godfrey-Lee — When Coach Greg Popma simulated a cardiac episode during a CPR training session at Lee Middle and High School, his cross-country team sprang into action to take control of the situation.
Sophomore Dan Romero instructed some of his teammates to leave the classroom and form a line of waving hands, to guide a hypothetical EMS team to the site of the emergency. Senior Loy Kashindi pretended to call 911 and practiced what to say.
Thanks to their swift response, Coach Popma survived and his runners learned how to stay level-headed during a crisis.
Led by First Aid/CPR/AED instructor and middle-school social studies teacher Mike Donovan, students learned how to use an AED defibrillator, perform chest compressions on adult and infant training mannequins, and how to respond to someone choking.
The training followed the most updated guidelines from the American Heart Association.
Donovan told the students: “Emergency situations are scary and you will be scared, but you can be prepared. … I hope this is the most useless training you ever have, and never have to do this.”
Students also learned how to identify the what, who and where of an emergency to share with a 911 operator, and to note details to keep information straight during a fast-moving situation.
“Everyone deals with stress differently, but you have to breathe and take deep breaths when you’re on the phone (with the 911 operator,)” Loy explained.
Some students expressed concern about how much upper body strength it takes to perform CPR, and their fear of hurting the person’s chest.
“You have to push harder than you think,” Donovan said while students practiced giving chest compressions on the adult mannequins. “You’ll think you’re breaking ribs, but you’re not.”
Popma explained why it was so important to him that his athletes are trained and certified to handle cardiac situations.
“I’ve been coaching for a long time, and I have nightmares about this stuff,” he said. “I want my team to be ready, and think people need to know this information.”
Popma said the team received a grant to purchase an AED for their team to have at meets.
“The school’s AED is in the building, and we wouldn’t have time to run inside for it during an emergency,” he said. “Spectators and parents walk and run alongside our courses, and they could go down (from a cardiac episode.) I thought it would be useful to train our student athletes.”
Following the group instruction, every student had to pass a skills test to earn their certification.
Senior Kaylee Ochoa said she learned to be more alert and aware during stressful situations, and recognized this was a unique opportunity for her team.
“Especially with the sport we do, breathing is very important,” she said. “If someone collapses on the course, now we know how to do this.”
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