GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Students at Grand Rapids Preparatory Academy have been learning how to save lives through a generous donation from the American Heart Association.
In honor of Heart Month beginning soon, the nonprofit donated eight CPR kits to the school. Grand Rapids Preparatory Academy has been teaching hands-only CPR for six of its seven years in operation.
According to the Heart Association, this method has been just as effective as conventional CPR. The organization said removing the breathwork component actually boosts the rate of bystanders stepping in to perform CPR.
"The data shows that the earlier CPR is initiated, the amount of recovery from incident to discharge is going to be 2 to 3 times greater. And so the more we can get our scholars educated in CPR, the better it is, not only for their families, but families that surround them," said Jolinda Lucas, health PE educator and middle school athletic director.
The school has already taught the hands-only method to 1,500 students. Another 850 students should be trained just this year thanks to the donation. The kits also included AEDs, which students will also train on.
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