(Pictured: Indian Hills Junior High students Jake Hubner & Aaron Waters)
Seventh grade science students at Indian Hills Junior High School in Clive spent one of their last days before summer vacation, learning the basics of hands-only CPR.
Students gathered in pairs in the school's media center, and learned life saving skills, with the help of Unity Point medical personnel.
Methodist West Emergency Room Nurse Lindsey Ramirez says the mini-training gives kids a basic idea of what's needed to do CPR. She says it also gives students an opportunity to be exposed to the methods, in the event they are called to respond to an emergency. She says kids may find dealing with someone in medical distress is scary, but they should know what they can do to help someone having a medical issue.
Laura Meers manages the West Des Moines School District nurses, through Blank Childrens Hopsital. She says they try to educate the kids, so they can at least assist, they don't have to be the first person to respond by they may need to run and get an AED (automatic external defibrillator).
The students were also reminded that a couple of years ago, a student at Indian Hills choked on a chicken nugget during lunch, and a classmate knew what to do, sprung into action, and was able to help the student expel the food that was causing him to choke.
The students were also encouraged to take a basic first aid class, especially if they plan do do some babysitting or caring for younger siblings over their summer vacation.