Health Watch: Students Compete In The CPR/AED Olympics
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - One American dies of cardiac arrest every two minutes. Knowing CPR, cardio pulmonary resuscitation, or how to use a defibrillator can help save lives. So doctors are teaming up with students to help them learn the basics.
Students from 15 Philadelphia high schools entered Franklin Field in Olympic style. They're here competing in the CPR/AED Olympics.
"I think it's really exciting," said Emily Klement, a freshman at Girls High School for Philadelphia.
The competition includes relay's with AED's (automated external defibrillators), a compression challenge, and an AED two-minute turnaround challenge.
Dr. Victoria Vetter with Youth Heart Watch at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is actually doing research with these students to engage more teens in CPR and AED education.
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"These students have been working for months to learn the skills of CPR and AED use and have come up with creative and innovative ways to teach that to other students," said Dr. Vetter.
Students from Mastbaum High School try to raise awareness and explain CPR techniques by creating a cheer. Video and computer presentations are also judged.
"I think it's pretty cool. And it's extremely important for students to know," said Rusleykah Chevalir, a senior at Frankford High School.
Today the students projects were judged on creativity and innovation. They were also scored on their ability to remember how to do the life saving skills during competitions.
Girls High School came in first place.
For more information on your cardiac death among children and young adults, click here.
Reported by Stephanie Stahl, CBS 3
