The Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation and the American Heart Association have collaborated to provide comprehensive cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator training to staff at twelve Duval County public schools. The training session was conducted at Mandarin Oaks Elementary School, focusing on equipping school personnel with the critical skills necessary to respond effectively during cardiac emergencies. According to data from the American Heart Association, nearly 90% of individuals who experience cardiac arrest outside of hospital settings do not survive, with delayed CPR often cited as a contributing factor. Immediate administration of CPR can potentially double or triple a person's chance of survival, underscoring the importance of widespread training.
The training emphasized compression-only CPR, a technique that can be equally effective during the initial minutes of an emergency response. Each participating school received CPR in Schools kits, which included ten Hands-Only CPR manikins and ten AED training tools. Three of the schools were also provided with additional AED equipment. This comprehensive resource allocation ensures that faculty, staff, and coaches can not only learn these vital lifesaving techniques but also teach them to others within their school communities. The initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance emergency preparedness in educational environments.
This program aligns with the objectives of the NFL's Smart Heart Sports Coalition, which advocates for evidence-based policies to prevent fatal cardiac outcomes among high school students. The American Heart Association reports that approximately 23,000 individuals under the age of eighteen experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrests annually, with nearly 40% of these incidents related to sports activities. Michael Carnahan, the Jaguars senior manager of community impact, highlighted the foundation's commitment to youth development and safety. He stated that by partnering with the American Heart Association, the Jaguars are helping to build community resilience and preparedness for potential medical emergencies.
The trained representatives from the twelve schools are now equipped to bring these lifesaving skills back to their respective campuses. The schools involved include Andrew Robinson Elementary School, Biscayne Elementary School, Central Riverside Elementary School, Chets Creek Elementary School, Chimney Lakes Elementary School, Crystal Springs Elementary School, Enterprise Elementary School, G.W. Carver Elementary School, Jacksonville Heights Elementary, Mandarin Oaks Elementary School, Oceanway Elementary School, and Rufus Payne Elementary School. This initiative represents a significant step toward creating safer school environments by ensuring that staff are prepared to act swiftly and effectively in cardiac emergencies, potentially saving lives within the student population and broader school community. For more information on the American Heart Association's training programs, visit https://www.heart.org.
