Nearly 10 fire science students in La Porte County’s career and technical education programs will be certified in CPR thanks to instruction from local firefighters.

Three firefighters from the City of Michigan Fire Department taught cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to students learning the basics of firefighting Tuesday morning at the AK Smith Career Center. Training included proper chest compression technique, how to use AEDs (automated external defibrillators) and bag-mask devices, and the differences between performing these methods in adults, children, and infants. I was.

“This is a skill that is required for any career in the medical field, including a career as an EMT,” said MCFD spokesperson Nick Pabon, adding that many firefighters are also emergency medical technicians. rice field.

While training students, the firefighters involved are also earning their own educational credits as it is a necessary step to becoming a certified CPR trainer.

Firefighters Sean Baker, Joshua Allen, and Brock Kohler all visited the AK Smith classroom to provide CPR training in order to qualify as CPR instructors. In return for providing this opportunity to train staff, MCFD covered the typical per-student cost of this CPR training for her.

CPR Instructor certification is offered through the Northwest Health Hospital’s program in LaPorte. Brian Gray, a full-time firefighter in the City of La Porte, is a certified CPR instructor who oversaw the training sessions at AK Smith. “The more people in our community he is CPR certified, the better the results,” Gray said. “The lifesaving process can begin before first responders arrive.”

Rob Schaffer, fire science instructor at AK Smith and former MCFD firefighter, agrees, saying the benefits of learning how to use an AED go beyond responding to emergencies as a firefighter or EMT. told the class. “You see AEDs everywhere. You can carry them in the grocery store, in schools, in your car. And if they are approved for use, they could save lives.”