CPR certification moved to senior curriculum

Life saving skill previously taught to sophomores

Harry Steffenhagen

According to a new Minnesota mandate, all students must now become CPR trained in order to graduate.

CPR certification had been in the sophomore health curriculum previous to the mandate, but has been moved to students’ senior year.

The training will be partially integrated into embedded health, but students will have to meet with Richard Keith, a physical education teacher and the instructor of the course, before or after school to become certified.

“I’m trying to mirror what embedded health is doing. I will do an introduction and explain to them what they need to do to catch up with me,” Keith said. “It’s a part of the health curriculum, but I’ll be teaching it.”

Senior Charis Tshihamba said she thinks it was good to move the certification to senior year.

“It is a good idea because seniors will be more mentally developed. They can comprehend and take in the material needed to become certified,” Tshihamba said.

According to Allison Luskey, one of the health teachers, students should retake the course even if they’re currently CPR certified.

“Certifications, depending on where you get it through, generally only last two years,” Luskey said. “(Taking the course) would extend your certification.”

Students will have access to instructional videos on Schoology to help facilitate the certification process.

“Kids will have to go on (Schoology) prior to coming to test out with me,” Keith said. “This way, they can practice or at least know what the procedure is.”