Walking to class, a student falls to the ground, unconscious. Unable to breathe, he is losing life fast. While most would call 911, many don't know the simple steps they can take to save a life before paramedics arrive.
In those vital minutes before the ambulance comes, knowing how to properly perform CPR/AED skills could save someone's life. UB's Health Services is committed to ensuring that students know these valuable skills in case they are ever put in a life-or-death situation.
Health Services offers CPR/AED certification classes in so that students can learn easy and efficient ways to help save a life. Students learn from health professionals' numerous safety tasks.
"At the CPR course provided at Clark Hall, you can learn how to give CPR to a baby, child and adult," said Kasie Reese, a junior nursing major. "I took it on a Saturday morning, and it lasted only a couple of hours. It was interesting and well worth our time."
Students also learned what to do in simulated real-life emergencies.
"We watched a movie first, then an instructor taught us what we needed to know," said Melissa Antaki, a junior nursing major. "Lastly, we practiced on dummies. We blew into the dummy's mouth and did chest compressions."
Participants also learned how to respond in case of a heart attack and how to use Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and other resources while waiting for paramedics to arrive. In instances such as heart attacks and strokes, the first few moments are crucial to prevent increased injury.
"We should all learn what to do in crisis situations because they often happen when they are least expected," said Timothy Christie, a nurse anesthetist at Bayfront Medical Center.
According to Christie, students should follow the ABCs of CPR. "A" for airway, "B" for breathing and "C" for circulation.
"The ABC's are a basic and easy format to follow and are essential in saving a life," Christie said.
The safety class also covers topics that are relevant to college students and the situations that they are likely to encounter, such as alcohol poisoning and burns.
"If you think that a friend has alcohol poisoning you should get them to the emergency room as soon as possible, keeping their airway clear," Christie said. "For burns, it depends on the severity, but the number one thing is to avoid infection, keeping the area clean and covered, especially if the burn is open."
Most importantly, the Health Services course aims to prepare students for emergency situations that they could encounter at any time. Knowing what to do quickly and efficiently is the main ingredient in saving a life.
Being CPR-certified is also required for certain jobs including lifeguarding, some teaching positions, camp staff and any medical profession. For students who baby-sit often or participate in sporting events, CPR skills are not required but are often a great asset if ever an emergency should arise.
Allison Schoenfeld, a junior speech and hearing major, had to rescue a young girl from drowning and then perform CPR while lifeguarding over the summer.
"The girl didn't know how to swim and somehow ended up in the deep end," Schoenfeld said. "I was quite nervous, but because of my CPR certification I was well prepared for the rescue."
