Texas Lawmakers May Require Students to Learn CPR at School
By: Meredith Hillgartner
Updated: March 20, 2013
"Hands down this is something that is good for school
districts," Smith said.
Shannon Smith with the Lubbock Red Cross said she
thinks it is a good idea for high school student to learn CPR.
"This happens honestly everyday," Smith said. "And the
more people we can get knowledge on what to do the chances of people surviving
will be greater."
On Tuesday the Texas House Education Committee held a
hearing for a bill that would require
The American Heart Association and the American Red
Cross are big supporters of the bill.
"Classes for first-aid, CPR and AED training is about
six and a half hours long," Smith said. So this would just be a certificate of
completion for high school students."
Smith said in an emergency even a little bit of
knowledge can help save a life.
"It is better to try if you have the knowledge and
skills rather than do nothing and that person having no chance of survival,"
Smith said.
The national average response time for emergency
responders in 10 minutes.
Smith said that is not quick enough.
She said the brain can start developing damage after
only four minutes without oxygen.
"The more people that know CPR the better," Rose said.
"I know if it were me or one of my loved ones, I would rather have someone that
knows 30 minutes of CPR versus someone that doesn't know any."
Kristy Rose is the Health Director for Lubbock Cooper
ISD.
She also teached CPR classes.
She said if done right, 30 minutes is plenty of time
for a student to learn the basics.
"In theory, can I teach you or teach a child CPR in 30
minutes and they save a life, I would say yes," Rose said.
