The American Heart Association of Southwest Florida is pleased to announce the nonprofit organization received $26,000 in bequests to provide CPR in Schools Training Kits™ to both Lee County Middle and High School students.
“Nationally, each hour 38 people experience a cardiac arrest outside of the hospital setting and, tragically, nine out of 10 will not survive,” explains Cindy Brown, Vice President of Patient Care Services at HealthPark Medical Center and Board Chairwoman of the American Heart Association local Chairman’s Board. “The simple act of performing CPR can double or triple survival rates. By teaching every child these basic skills, we’re creating a generation of lifesavers that can truly transform our community.”
The funds, a gift from the Frederick V. Simon Trust, which belongs to the late Frederick V. Simon and his widow Willodean “Billie” Simon, afford the American Heart Association of Southwest Florida the ability to provide Lee County schools more than 40 CPR in Schools Training Kits™. All the middle and high schools in Lehigh Acres will have this life saving kit shortly.
The easy-to-use portable Kit is designed specifically with educators in mind, helping them teach CPR, AED skills and choking relief in under 30-minutes to 10-20 students at a time. While the Kits cost $625 each, they are reusable, move effortlessly between classrooms, are easily stored and include:
10 mini Anne, plus inflatable manikins
10 kneel mats with carry bags
10 practice-while-watching training DVDs
Hand pump for manikin inflation
2 mesh collection and storage bags
Classroom carry bag
50 replacement airways and manikin wipes
10 replacement facemasks
A Facilitator Guide
The American Heart Association developed the CPR in Schools Training Kits™ as a research-proven way for students to learn and retain lifesavings CPR skills. Students can learn Hands-Only CPR, or CPR with breaths. The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, Inc. is partnering with The American Heart Association to help facilitate the implementation of this worthwhile project.
“The best way for students to learn is through hands-on activities,” says Marshall T. Bower, President & CEO of The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools. “These kits will instill in our students the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle as well as learning an important life-saving skill. This donation is truly a gift for a lifetime!”