Baptist North Mississippi makes sure Oxford students know lifesaving CPR skills

First CPR Anytime Kit in Mississippi and entire Southeast going to Oxford schools

Students at the Oxford School District and Lafayette County Schools have received a lifesaving gift from Baptist North Mississippi. The hospital has partnered with the American Heart Association to purchase the first CPR Anytime Kits in the state of Mississippi and the entire Southeast for the local high schools.

“More than 400,000 people suffer out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest each year. Nearly 90 percent don’t survive. We would like to change that, and we can’t think of a better place to start than with our students,” said Baptist North Mississippi Administrator and CEO Bill Henning. “Baptist North Mississippi is proud to invest in the future of our community by providing students with the American Heart Association’s CPR Anytime Kits.”

The donation comes on the heels of CPR in Schools legislation being enacted in Mississippi. Recently Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant signed American Heart Association-supported legislation that will include CPR training as a requirement for high school students. Mississippi joins 13 other states that have this lifesaving requirement.

Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any time. It is most often caused by a heart attack, but it can also be caused by trauma, an overdose or drowning. In sudden cardiac arrest, the heart stops beating, blood stops circulating, oxygen stops flowing to the brain and the victim stops breathing. Studies show students are capable of learning and effectively performing CPR.

“Oxford High School teachers and staff are thankful for this lifesaving device that will help our students learn Hands-Only CPR,” said Oxford School District Superintendent Brian Harvey. “You never know when the lessons taught within the walls of our high school will save the life of someone inside of our school walls or on the outside.”

“As a result of the donation of the CPR Anytime Kits, Lafayette County Schools will be better able to train all students as well as staff in CPR,” said Dr. Adam Pugh, Lafayette County Schools Superintendent. “Hopefully, these skills will enable them to react in emergency situations and prevent unnecessary death or injury to those in our community. We have already begun to train our students and faculty using this kit and will begin classes again with the start of the 2014-15 school year.”