The Cardiac and Vascular Institute is excited to share news about a recent collaboration that’s making a big impact on the health and safety of our community. In partnership with the American Heart Association, TCAVI has taken a significant step to address the vital need for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training in our local school system.
Through a local sponsorship initiative, TCAVI has provided two CPR in Schools Training Kits™ to Alachua County Public Schools, reinforcing our commitment to the well-being of the region. These kits, each equipped with 10 reusable and sustainable mannequins, are designed to seamlessly integrate CPR training into school curriculums for years to come.
The CPR in Schools Training Kits are designed to empower students by enabling them to acquire essential CPR skills, Automated External Defibrillator (AED) skills, and choking relief in under 30 minutes. With comprehensive components, including instructional videos, a facilitator’s guide, mannequins with pumps, knee pads, replacement parts, and sanitizer, these kits provide everything teachers need to effectively educate students on life-saving techniques.
Shelby Bobbett, Sr. Development Director at the American Heart Association, expressed her gratitude for TCAVI’s generosity, stating, “Many schools in Alachua County lacked CPR kits for training. Thanks to the recognition of this need for our community and the generosity of The Cardiac and Vascular Institute, hundreds of our local students will now be able to save a life.”
With more than 350,000 people experiencing cardiac arrests outside of hospitals, including 23,000 children, CPR is a critical skill that can be learned by children as young as 9 years old. The Nation of Lifesavers initiative aims to ensure that teens and adults can acquire CPR and AED use knowledge, share it with others, and garner support from various stakeholders to create a nation prepared and empowered to perform CPR in the face of a cardiac emergency. TCAVI is glad to be doing its part to ensure a more informed, safer, and healthier community.