Dozens of mannequins lay in place on the Incline Middle School gymnasium floor as a tool to educate students who will practice learning how to help someone in the event of a cardiovascular or respiratory emergency.
Seventh-graders at Incline middle are learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation, better known as CPR, during several gym classes throughout the remainder of March.
"It's good to know in case you need to help someone," said Kimberly May, 13. "It's important to keep them breathing and give them air."
CPR is a combination of rescue breathing and chest compressions delivered to victims thought to be in cardiac or respiratory arrest. It can buy time until professional help arrives and normal function is restored.
For the 16th year, staff from the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District is teaching CPR at the school.
"So many of them are baby sitters these days," said Debbie Fortin, physical education teacher at the school. "Being baby sitters, they should have CPR."
Each student uses their own mannequin, which they clean before use.
As they practice, tips are reinforced.
Shoulders above hands and don't take hands off the chest. Head tilt, chin lift on open airways. Keep it at 100 compressions per minute.
"I love it because I didn't know how to do all the things they taught us," said Alissa Para, 12. "Now I know how to help someone."
Cory Aksamit agreed. "I didn't know that you had to do the two breaths followed by the 30 pumps," said Aksamit, 12.
Ian Reeves, 13, said handling a mannequin initially felt strange, but he got used to it and learned new information. "I didn't know you had to tilt the head back to loosen the airways," he said.
Students also will learn to use an automated external defibrillator. An AED is a computerized medical device that can check heart rhythm and recognizes a rhythm that requires a shock.
Firefighter and EMT Mike Steiner said students who want to get certified in CPR can get additional training, such as how to handle infant emergencies, free through the American Heart Association and must pass a test.
