CHRISTUS training high schoolers to save lives

CHRISTUS St. Michael Health System is partnering with Atlanta High School and Atlanta Fire Department to train high school students to be the difference between life and death through the American Heart Association’s Hands-Only CPR Program.

“We believe anyone can learn the simple steps to save a life, and everyone should,” said Nicole Fant, MSN, RN, SCRN, who is the RN Program Manager – Trauma/Stroke/Chest Pain, CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital - Atlanta. “Hands-Only CPR is an easy-to-remember and effective option for people who have not been trained in CPR before and are afraid to help because they are not confident that they can perform the steps of conventional CPR.”

In a cardiac arrest, every second counts. A cardiac arrest can happen anywhere, often while at home, at work or at play. And the victim could be someone you know and love. Throughout the year, Fant and the Atlanta Fire Department provide Hands-Only CPR training to Atlanta High School first year students.

“We work with school nurse Jennifer Christian, RN, and Health Teacher Dana Boyce to teach 9th graders Hands-Only CPR as way to make a difference, be prepared and to truly save lives,” explained Fant. “We just recently had a group complete the spring training, and it was great! These students are capable of helping someone in need, and it is wonderful see their accomplishment and the confidence they have earned.”

Fant and the team of firefighters and paramedics have been providing the training each Fall and Spring at Atlanta High School for the past three years to 9th graders and other older students who may not have received the training previously.

“This is a tremendous program for students to really just become good citizens,” said Fant. “They are trained and tested thoroughly, and by the end of the program they are capable of administering lifesaving help to someone in need.”

Students are taught to Call 911 and start chest compression on a person who is experiencing cardiac arrest.

The song “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees serves as a teaching tool to help students incorporate the needed 100 beats or compressions per minute to resuscitate a victim of cardiac arrest. Then, students who have completed the training must pass a written exam and be able to demonstrate Hands-Only CPR.

Schools or other groups that would like to the Hands-Only CPR training can reach out to Nicole Fant, at the CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital - Atlanta, to arrange for training at grace.fant@christushealth.org or by calling 903.799.3009.