Page 10 - 71938 - FRHS Foundation Annual Reports Final Proof

CPR in Schools

In 2016, Faith Regional Health Services
and Nucor in Norfolk partnered to provide
every high school in the region with an
American Heart Association CPR in
Schools Training Kit™. Nucor hosted
their annual golf tournament in
September 2016 and raised $125,000 to
support this program that enables
students to learn the life-saving skills of CPR in just one class period.

One kit can train hundreds of people.

According to Matt Blitch, Nucor Rolling Mill Manager, “We were really drawn to this project. Our
partnership with Faith Regional gives us the opportunity to give to the community and impact as many
people as we possibly can. I like how it involves the youth in the community. We are able to reach out
to many communities in northeast and central Nebraska.”

Jenny Simmons, RN, chest pain and stroke coordinator at Faith Regional Health Services, “Taking
hands-only CPR kits to the schools to teach students in grades 7 and 12 is one way to equip our
communities with the basic knowledge and skills to save a life. About 80% of cardiac arrests occur in
nonhospital settings, often at home, with fewer than 10% of victims surviving. Simmons says “Basic
CPR can sometimes be enough to keep a person alive until first responders arrive.”

The CPR training involves watching a video that covers information about recognizing when someone
is having a heart attack, calling 911 and performing CPR until emergency responders arrive. CPR
instructors demonstrate how to do chest compressions while students practice on inflatable
mannequins. Training began in February 2017
and Faith Regional Health Services provided
CPR kits to 56 schools and trained 1,563 people
which equates to 91% of northeast Nebraska 7th
and 12th graders.

“As seniors graduate and move on to the next
phase of life, they will find themselves in many
social situations. Being able to respond in the
case of an emergency without being afraid is the
training we want to give these students,”
Simmons added.