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Gold Award Spotlight: CPR Saves; What You Need to Know
People of all ages can save lives by knowing how to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, or CPR for short. CPR is a technique that can be used by everyday people to help others in emergency situations, with the proper training. CPR is used to force blood to the heart, and the rest of the body, to keep oxygen-rich blood flowing to the brain and other important organs while waiting for emergency responders to arrive. For her Gold Award project, Girl Scout Ambassador Kendal of Troop 1104 addressed the topic of emergency preparedness in schools and a retirement community in her area.
Kendal said, “The percent of cardiac arrests that occur in a person’s home is 73.4%, according to the American Heart Association. About 100,000 to 200,000 lives can be saved each year in the United States if early intervention of a by-stander performed CPR. The more people that can recognize a person in cardiac distress, the more quickly they can act and save a life.”
Kendal created a video (see below) that was used at three middle schools in the Williamsburg area — Lois S. Hornsby Middle School, James Blair Middle School, and Berkeley Middle School — with the goal of helping students prepare for high school certification. The video was presented during the schools’ health lesson times as part of the curriculum.
She also presented her video to residents of The Chesapeake Retirement Community to spread awareness on this issue. Her presentation included informing the residents about the steps of performing hands-only CPR. In addition to the demonstration, she distributed literature for them to discuss with their family and friends, amplifying the awareness of her project’s mission.
Kendal said, “Many people do not know enough about the subject to successfully recognize and help a person in cardiac failure. If people knew more, they could help save lives.”
Congratulations, Kendal!
6/10/2024: Kendal was featured in the Williamsburg Yorktown Daily.
