A man has just been shot. Laying on the ground in front of you, bleeding profusely from his abdomen. A crowd of onlookers stands frozen in shock. Are you prepared to intervene and save his life?
In a city and country plagued by increasing crime, it is now more crucial than ever for Whitney Young to equip its students with proper first aid training, enabling them to be potential lifesavers. First Aid Programs need to be incorporated into the curriculum at our school to give students the basic knowledge to be able to significantly change the outcome of a deadly situation, wherever they occur.
A study, published by the University of Manchester, asserts that 59% of pre-hospital deaths could be averted if more people on the scene possessed first aid knowledge. A comprehensive first aid education grants a multitude of benefits for Whitney Young students, our local community, and the city of Chicago as a whole. Mr. Soto from the administration team at the school when asked about the implementation of a first aid curriculum reiterates a common observation held by many people throughout the community, “Makes sense. Logical. I think the more people know about first aid the safer we will all be.”
Having the expertise to be able to react swiftly in an emergency situation is something that can make students feel empowered and independent, even in unfamiliar environments. Possessing even rudimentary first aid skills is better than freezing in place or running away. One student, who wishes to stay anonymous says, “I’ve been in an emergency situation where I freezed. Luckily, an adult who knew first-aid was nearby and was able to revive the person in danger. I’ve been convinced since that day that it’s an important skill.”
First aid education complements the academic curriculum we already have in place at Whitney Young. All our students complete mandatory Health and Drivers Education classes during freshman and sophomore PE credits. It is often stressed during Driver’s Ed that the information we’re learning can save a life on a road. This same principle should extend to situations like heart attacks and strokes, which take even more lives than car collisions every year. Furthermore, it would be fairly simple to incorporate first aid skills into this curriculum, without having to create additional classes or logistical issues. Coach Nick from the athletics department agrees, “I think it’s a good thing for everyone, especially the younger generation. God forbid something were to happen in the car with a friend, phones not reachable, honestly it takes emergency services time to reach scenes, I think that knowing some basic CPR, as crazy as it sounds, you could save your friend’s life.”
First aid education at Whitney Young is a proactive approach to creating a more safe and secure environment in all the communities we are part of. The ability to potentially save a life should not be limited to only health professionals, but rather something from which every young adult can benefit from.
link to study: https://www.manchester.ac.uk/discover/news/over-half-of-deaths-from-injury-could-be-prevented-if-public-knew-first-aid/
