Joint effort brings CPR training to Lincoln students

Shakera Garrard, left, a program coordinator at the Women's Resource Center at Lincoln University, shows a group including Mayor Carrie Tergin, at right, and LU student Jonathon Jackson, second from right, the proper chest compression technique Thursday during a hands-only CPR training event. In the middle is Carol Pettigrew, a registered nurse from Capital Region Medical Center, who's working with Carlos Graham, second from left.
Shakera Garrard, left, a program coordinator at the Women's Resource Center at Lincoln University, shows a group including Mayor Carrie Tergin, at right, and LU student Jonathon Jackson, second from right, the proper chest compression technique Thursday during a hands-only CPR training event. In the middle is Carol Pettigrew, a registered nurse from Capital Region Medical Center, who's working with Carlos Graham, second from left.

The classic Bee Gees 1970s tune "Stayin' Alive" blared while Lincoln University students and community leaders learned how to conduct cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to the beat, equipping them with the skills to potentially save a life.

"When a person goes into cardiac arrest, call 9-1-1 first, then give the person compressions hard and fast at 100 beats per minute until help arrives," said Becky Collier, corporate events director for the American Heart Association. "Our research has shown that you can double the chances of somebody's survival just by doing the compressions, which is something everybody can do."

On Thursday, the American Heart Association and Capital Region Medical Center teamed up with Lincoln University in their efforts to train students on how to conduct hands-only CPR. This was coupled with a bit of education about the importance of knowing the lifesaving technique on the spot.

Shakera Gerrad, program coordinator at the Women's Resource Center, led the training while various student volunteers assisted with the simulation.

Alexis Smith and Ajane Crockett, both freshman at LU, told the News Tribune this is one way a person could be proactive in the event of an emergency.

"The benefit is even if you're on or off campus you'll know how to react to the situation," Crockett said. "You won't be scared. You'll be proactive instead of inactive."

Lindsay Huhman, public relations and marketing director at Capital Region Medical Center, was on site from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., helping the AHA and the LU volunteers to spread the word.

"We're really excited about this opportunity to get out and do some education in the community," Huhman said. "If someone's not comfortable doing the breaths or haven't had the extensive training, this is something anybody can do if they suspect somebody has gone into cardiac arrest."

Collier said the takeaway lesson from all of this is anybody can save a life.

"This is a skill that everyone can learn how to do, and you never know when you're going to be in the situation that you're going to need it," Collier said.

Mayor Carrie Tergin and Carlos Graham, 4th Ward councilman, were also in attendance.

Tergin was pleased the event was held on Lincoln's campus so it was accessible to students and community leaders who were also on site.

"Hands-only CPR is something you don't think about, but it really needs to be at the forefront of our minds in the event of an emergency," Tergin said. "This is a great opportunity for us to learn something that's life saving, because we all need to be prepared."