NNPS receives CPR kits sponsored by NN Shipbuilding on World Restart a Heart Day
Posted: October 16, 2024
Newport News Public Schools was presented with CPR In Schools Training Kits that were a gift sponsored by Huntington Ingalls Industries and its Newport News Shipbuilding division through the American Heart Association Hampton Roads.
Officials from each of the groups involved, along with students from the Governor's Health Sciences Academy at Warwick High School, gathered for a kits presentation and demonstration of hands-only CPR techniques in recognition of World Restart a Heart Day on October 16 in the NNPS Administration Building Auditorium.
"Today is World Restart a Heart Day, so what better day than this to donate these kits and to emphasize the importance of this life critical skill of CPR," said Julia Jones, vice president of quality at Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of HII, and 2024 AHA Heart Walk chairperson.
As part of its work with young people, teaching students preventative and preparedness measures for cardiovascular events such as cardiac arrest and stroke are mission critical to the AHA, said MeShall Simmons, executive director of the American Heart Association Hampton Roads. Helping to get more CPR in Schools Training Kits to students is instrumental.
"This will empower students to learn the life-saving skills of CPR in just one class period," Simmons said. "The training kit also teaches AED use and choking relief. Through this training, support and quick action in an emergency, we can double or triple a person's chance of survival."
The 13 CPR kits will be distributed among NNPS middle and high schools. Darrell Pankratz, NNPS executive director of secondary teaching and learning and K-12 programs, expressed the school division's gratitude for them.
"Additional CPR kits will allow us to expand the health and physical education curriculum," Pankratz said. "We are excited to incorporate hands-only CPR into our seventh grade Body Systems Unit for Health, which focuses on the circulatory system."
Seventh grade students will learn, practice and demonstrate CPR skills under the guidance of their teacher, he added. Additionally, students will participate in an activity exploring songs within the 100 to 120 beats per minute range, helping them maintain the correct pace while performing CPR.
"In ninth grade Health, students are trained in First Aid, CPR and AED," Pankratz said. "This training includes hands-on CPR. Moving forward, this introduction to CPR in seventh grade will give those students the same hands-on education in CPR so they can assist in a cardiac emergency."
AHA officials showed a hands-only CPR demonstration video and performed a demonstration, with students practicing at the same time.
