By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
CPR saved an infant's life at the Great Bend Walmart last October. More recently, it saved the life of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin in a high-profile Monday Night Football game. Now organizations are examining how they, too, might use CPR and Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to save lives. Great Bend High School Activities Director Matt Westerhaus and Head Athletic Trainer Ryan Zink spoke about the two life savers at Monday's USD 428 Board of Education meeting.
Approximately four years ago, the Kansas State High School Activities Association implement Rule 10-1-9, stating all sports coaches and activity sponsors must be CPR and AED certified. Westerhaus said USD 428 takes it a step further with first aid certification.
"At the beginning of the year, we offer a few days for those coaches who are in need of recertification to do that," Westerhaus said. "Then, throughout the year, we'll set up some times for new hires. If you'll notice in that rule, we have 30 days to comply."
In addition to being head trainer, Zink also teaches two sports medicine classes. Students spend about 10 days on CPR certification in the first class. Students who take the second class not only recertify, but also teach childhood CPR in another class. Zink said approximately 90-100 students in grades 10-12 get certified each year, and some 350 students in the building are certified. Staff certification hovers around 50 percent.
"We always hope nothing happens from an emergency standpoint, but I feel like we're in a pretty good place," Zink said. "It'd be nice to get it to 100 percent when it comes to staff, but maybe we'll get there one day. I think 50 percent is a pretty good number."
Zink also reported there are nine AEDs inside Great Bend High School, and one of those devices could be accessed within approximately 30 seconds of an emergency anywhere in the school.