The Lifesaving Benefits of CPR in Health Class

TO:

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

FROM:

Jeremy West

DATE:

November 29, 2014

RE:

A Proposal Designed to Save Lives

Purpose:
It was just your typical day in Wal-Mart November 17, when something terrible happen. An 11 month old baby
suddenly stopped breathing, and within minutes has no pulse. Emergency crews were racing to get to Wal-Mart to
try to save this babys life, but would they make it in time? In walks Abigail Snodgrass, your everyday senior from
Hillsboro High School. Abigail had just learned CPR at school, and stepped into action. Was this recent training
enough to keep the baby alive? There are so many different things that are offered in High School health, but one
thing that is not offered at every school is CPR. If this was offered at all schools then every student could have the
ability to save a life. A recent survey showed that many in the public believe that CPR would be more beneficial than
two other things that are currently being taught in high school health. The results are as follows:

Which topic do you think would be most

benefical to learn in Health class?
Alcohol and Drugs
22%
CPR
62%

Nutrition
16%

Therefore, I propose that every high school have CPR incorporated into all of their health classes.

CPR IN HIGH SCHOOLS

So why is CPR such a vital thing to learn in high school? According to the American Heart Association doing CPR
immediately following cardiac arrest can double or triple a victims chance of survival. In order for CPR to be
effective though it must be done immediately. Sadly, after five to ten minutes the survival rate drops significantly.
Unfortunately, most emergency response team in Missouri take an average of twenty minutes. That is why it would
be extremely beneficial if every student in Missouri knew CPR. Imagine the countless lives that could be saved, all
because wed increase the first responders by over 100,000. Another thing that was noted in the survey is that time
was the biggest obstacle in learning how to perform CPR. By including CPR in all high school health class, time
wouldnt be as big an obstacle, because itd replace current topics in health class.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
One of the core drivers of education is making the community a better place. Envision giving all our emerging adults
the opportunity not just to learn CPR, but also the chance of teaching others this life saving gift. Schools could offer
semi -annual CPR workshops with all the equipment and training necessary to get the entire community trained.
Additionally, many firehouses and other emergency response teams could be given the opportunity to share their
knowledge at these workshops, as well as helpful tips when it comes to basic first aid.

CASE STUDY:
Going back to the story about Abigail, her training paid off. Not only was the babys life saved, but she resuscitated it
before emergency crews arrived. She had just learned how to perform CPR a few short months before the incident.
In just two class periods, she was able to learn a skill that saved a life. Despite her fear of failing, the training she
learned came through. She was trained by emergency responders Valle Ambulance District that have taught at least
six hundred students so far. Because of this training, a young life that could change the future has been given a
second chance. Imagine what could be done if there were more instructors that could make sure every school is
trained in CPR.

TIMETABLE:
It would take at least one year for two CPR instructors to be available at every school. And probably at least another
year before every high school student would be given this awesome opportunity. Luckily, most of the prerequisite
courses are offered online or at several local healthcare providers. So the teacher could still teach and take these
courses in the evening or on weekends. While in transition, school could contact local firehouses and other
emergency crews to provide at least small clinics for the students. So within a month at least some students could
have the capabilities to perform CPR.

With help of local

firehouses, some
students could be
trained within
one month.

In one year all

schools could
have at least two
instructors per
school.

In two years
every student
could be given
the opportunity
to learn CPR.

COSTS:
There are several options when it comes to financing such a promising enterprise as this. First, many hospitals and
firehouses might be willing to donate CPR equipment. In the last year, St. Anthony gave away 250 AEDs to any
groups in the community. If we were to buy all the equipment ourselves, and provide at least ten CPR Dummies per
school, it would cost around one thousand per school. There are five hundred and sixty- nine high schools in

Missouri, so for just over half a million dollars live could be saved. Now we must also factor in the cost of having at
least two gym teachers per school trained as instructors. In order for them to do this they have to take at least two
course, which would cost around fifty dollars for BLS (Basic Life Support) certification, which is good for two years.
With the instructor course, this will cost two hundred and seventy dollars plus travel expenses to NJ going through
the American Heart Association. This would make the price around six hundred dollars per teacher. So for the first
year with all expenses added it would be $1,251,800. After that it would cost around $341,400 per year. But this is
how much it would cost statewide. Each school would be responsible only for six hundred dollars a year. This is
quite a nominal amount for such a great opportunity.

Ten CPR Dummies per

school.
$1,000

Total Cost of CPR

Instructor Training
including BLS
certification.

Travel Expenses to New

Jersey.
$275.00

$325
Total Cost of Equipment
Statewide.

Total Cost of Training and

Travel Statewide.

$569,000

$682,800

Total Cost for First Year of

CPR Training.
$1,251,800

CONCLUSION:
Picture with me for a minute an entire community of first responders. Let us be the state that shines a light on the
possible potential this education has. Our state could be securely wrapped in a young generation that not only holds

our future but also has the ability to save our lives. If we act within the next months to begin passing these measures
we can see our state at the forefront of safety. I hope that we can follow through on this proposal, and like Abigail we
can be people that see the value of life. Will you stand with as we forge ahead to the brighter future that our
education system holds?