Fifth graders attend lifesaving skills event

Hiawatha’s fifth grade students attended a training event on the lifesaving skills of hands-only CPR and choking rescue. Sachem health educators, Lori Hewlett and Patricia Broderick, who are certified  American Heart Association BLS Instructors, facilitated the training program for the entire fifth grade.

The students were taught how to recognize  cardiac and choking emergencies, contact EMS as well as the proper compression technique for hands-only CPR and choking rescue.

According to Hewlett, students were instructed that if they see a teen or adult suddenly collapse to call 911 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest. According to the American Heart Association, immediate CPR can double or even triple a person’s chances of survival.

One Hiawatha student shared, “ I enjoyed learning about it, because now if someone is in trouble I can help save them. ”

Kudos to Hiawatha School Nurse Catherine Nicosia for organizing the training.