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“ His parents wanted him to learn CPR one-handed ,” Lane said of the youngster , and the boy learned and demonstrated the necessary skills well . “ He kicked it out of the park with one arm .”
Compression-only CPR does not involve rescue breaths , Lane said . Learning compression-only CPR does
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not end in certification upon completion , but it is still a valid life-saving method .
CPR is a good skill for children to know , Lane said , because many homes in this area have pools and younger children can fall into pools and drown without immediate help . Having someone in the home , even another child , who knows CPR can make a real difference , Lane said .
“ You can teach anybody CPR ,” Lane said , “ and if you make it fun for children , they will be eager to learn .” Many CPR instructors suggest adults keep the song “ Staying Alive ” in mind when trying to get the right rhythm for chest compressions . To help younger children get the rhythm and keep things fun , Lane said he likes to use the song “ Baby Shark ” instead . He said he also uses characters children are familiar with when describing situations in which someone might be in distress .
“ I try to use humor as best I can , try to get down to their age level ,” Lane said of teaching CPR to younger students . “ It makes it more fun ,
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breaks the tension of the lifesaving reality .
“ In general , that age group , if they think it ’ s cool , they want to learn it ,” Lane said . “ I don ’ t know any kids I ’ ve taught who have had to use it , but I know they all left knowing how to do it .”
Once a person starts performing CPR , they are required to continue the life-saving method until the unconscious person revives and is breathing on his own , someone else is available to take over performing CPR or the person performing CPR becomes physically exhausted and cannot continue .
Studies have shown children 9 years of age and older can learn and remember the skills needed to perform CPR , according to the AHA website . The CPR Center has led classes in the past for children who wanted to learn the basic skills but were not trying to get certified , Lauren said .
“ A person can always practice life-saving skills , even if they are not certified ,” Lauren said .
Knowing the basic steps
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might help a child in an emergency situation not to panic , Lauren added . A calm child can pick up the phone and dial 911 more effectively , for example .
“ If the caretaker ( of a child ) is a grandparent and they lose consciousness , we want the child to know they can pick up the phone and call 911 ,” Lauren said .
Most of the classes offered by the CPR Center are available at a cost of less than $ 100 , Lauren said . That includes a three- to four-hour course in basic first aid and CPR instruction . Certification is good for two years . Discounts are available for some groups or someone looking to learn the basics without getting certified , Lauren said .
Make the Call Whenever someone needs life-saving care , one of the first steps is always to call 911 .
Sierra McFerren is the communications supervisor for the Fort Smith Police Department . She stressed the importance of knowing your location and the nature of the emergency when calling 911 . Once the dispatcher has collected the location and a few other facts about the situation , they can get help on the way . Within Fort Smith , first responders can typically reach a scene in three to four minutes , Sierra said . That time can be critical to the outcome of the emergency , she said .
“ We know callers are likely scared , but if they can stay on the line , we can help them ,” Sierra said .
Another important thing to know when calling 911 is that you may speak to more than one dispatcher on a single call , Sierra said . All 911 calls in Fort Smith are received by
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