Submitted by SCAFoundation on Wed, 04/02/2014 - 11:55am

AUGUSTA, ME--Eighth graders at St. Michael Catholic School in Augusta are now certified in Basic CPR and automated external defibrillator use after completing the American Heart Association’s ‘Be The Beat’ program. The school is the first in Maine to train their students through the initiative which aims to teach teens across the country about sudden cardiac arrest and the steps that can save a live.

“I am so proud of our eighth-grade students for taking the CPR and AED course so seriously,” said Janet Galati, principal at St. Michael Catholic School. “They are mature enough to understand that this is powerful knowledge and they now have the potential to save a life. Hopefully, they will never find the need to use it, but if they do, then the victim will certainly be in good hands.”

As part of the initiative, the students also observed a 3-D exploration of the heart, learned how to recognize cardiac arrest, and practiced what to do if they witness someone choking.

"What's more impactful than empowering our students to save lives?" said Jeanne Thompson, a nurse volunteer at the school.

St. Michael Catholic School’s staff and faculty are all certified in CPR and AED use as well.

SOURCE: Portland Diocese