PRESS RELEASES - SEPTEMBER 2006

CPR in the Junior High School Classroom
Preparing More People to Perform CPR

September 8, 2006

The City of Arlington is moving another step closer to achieving an important life-saving goal with the help of the Arlington Independent School District.

At 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, CPR training enters Boles Junior High School where approximately 400 eighth-grade students are scheduled to learn cardio pulmonary resuscitation. Their homework assignment is to take what they learn on Thursday, and teach at least three family members.

A general assembly will begin at 9:15 a.m. with Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck, AISD Superintendent Mac Bernd and Fire Chief Robin Paulsgrove. Inside of Gymnasium A, eighth grade students will learn CPR from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. With trained facilitators, they will view an instructional DVD that will walk them through each step of CPR training. Boles Junior High School is located at 3900 SW Green Oaks Blvd., Zip Code - 76017.

As part of the CPaRlington initiative, the city has set a five-year goal to train 10 percent of its population or approximately 36,000 residents, using a self-directed training program that teaches CPR in 22 minutes.

Since the program was launched in April 2006, an estimated 2,500 residents have already completed CPR training. More training sessions are scheduled for the fall. The annual goal is about 7,000 residents.

According to Mayor Robert Cluck, who is also a physician, the city is committed to reaching its goal because far too many people do not know how to perform CPR. Every year, more than 350,000 people in the U.S. die from coronary heart disease before reaching a hospital room or emergency room.

“Arlington is working to change that outcome,” the mayor said.

Laerdal Medical, a supplier of emergency medical products, has partnered with the citywide initiative to make CPR Anytime Kits available for individual and group purchases. The kits include an inflatable manikin, a CPR skills practice DVD, and associated informational materials. The program is designed to teach those who do not attend traditional CPR classes. Learn more about CPaRlington at www.ci.arlington.tx.us.