RALEIGH, N.C. -- It's that interesting time of year when the pools are back open, kids are still playing outside, but school is also back in session. Now, thanks to the American Heart Association, North Carolina has become the fifth state in the country to pass legislation requiring high school students to take CPR training before they graduate from high school. It's leading to a whole new generation of lifesavers, and many in our community are helping make that happen.
- American Heart Association played large role in the CPR in schools law
- NC became fifth state in the country to require CPR training for high school students before graduation
- Some 11,000 students in Wake County are trained in CPR every year
Spectrum News anchor Caroline Blair sat down with Anne Miller, an executive director for the American Heart Association, for an in depth look at CPR in communities and schools.
Miller says that no matter where you live, the AHA wants everyone to live their best life, knowing exactly what to do if they or someone else has a cardiac emergency. She says those who receive quick, quality CPR have a much better chance of surviving than those who don’t.
According to Miller, the AHA was a big force in the CPR in schools law, helping North Carolina become the fifth state in the country to pass legislation that requires CPR training for high school students prior to graduation. She says six years later, some 11,000 students in Wake County are trained in CPR every year.
The push to help people become CPR certified continues, as two AHA sponsors, Skanska and Brasfield Gorrie, are set to donate 12 CPR in Schools Training Kits to Wake County Public Schools on Thursday at a Hard Hats for Heart event.
To learn more about CPR and becoming certified, visit the Hands Only CPR website, or the Triangle AHA website.