Gabby Zevallos- Mustangs Ahead
(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL)- Checking for a pulse, calling 911, and starting chest compressions were just some of the critical skills Girls in White Coats (GIWC) students practiced Tuesday.
GIWC students at Lakewood Ranch High School (LRHS) took a hands-on step towards their medical futures on Tuesday as the club hosted a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification class during second period in partnership with the American Heart Association.
Dedicated to empowering, educating, and elevating future medical professionals, the club provides members with the opportunity to gain lifesaving skills.
Throughout the session, students learned essential emergency response techniques, beginning with how to assess a scene for safety and determine if a person is responsive.
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Participants practiced the proper steps to take when encountering an unresponsive, non-breathing individual, including directing someone to call 911 and retrieve an automated external defibrillator (AED). They performed chest compression and breaths on a manikin.
In addition to CPR, the training covered the Heimlich Maneuver for choking emergencies and methods to control severe bleeding. The interactive class allowed students to apply their knowledge to real-time scenarios.
By the end of the period, students walked away not only certified in CPR but also better prepared to make a difference in emergencies, reflecting the club’s mission to inspire the next generation of women in medicine.
Girls in White Coats Vice-President Elizabeth Sponsel, senior, stated, “I was grateful to get a two year certification at school in an easy way to understand that is also multifunctional to help me in several ways.”