On March 5th and March 19th, 2023, 9th grade TYP members completed first response training and certification. They took the same course that the TYP board members took in November.

The training had two parts: online lecture and hands-on, in-person practice. The in-depth lecture taught not only CPR but also how to prevent, identify, and respond to medical emergencies. The class then joined in-person to practice the techniques they learned on mannequins.

The TYP students learned so much during the day that Kosu Sol was convinced that “even if it was only the rudimentary training, I found out that CPR and first-aid was a lot more fast-paced and needed more improvising than I originally thought.” It is true that emergencies are unpredictable, but that doesn’t mean that people can’t be prepared for them. Thanks to their dedication to protect their community, the TYP students have practical experience in performing CPR on adults, children, and infants and using AED and tourniquet. The students are now equipped to respond to emergencies and potentially save a life.

Kate Lee was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the program: “Initially, I was reluctant to take the CPR class because of the lengthiness and the time it would take away from my Sunday morning… I had already listened to a long CPR lecture back in my high school, and I wondered what novel content I could possibly learn in three hours. However, the class was surprisingly very interesting. Time flew by faster than I expected, and I was able to gain valuable information on first aid for various scenarios—in-depth knowledge I had previously never learned before… In the Red Cross CPR class, I was given the opportunity to practice on higher quality mannequins that guided me through the rhythm and depth in which I pushed its chest. I learned how to dress and close up a wound, and I even got my hands on an infant mannequin to practice choking preventative measures.”

Daniel Kim “[recommends] CPR training to everyone because you never know when somebody in danger might need your help.” If you are interested in learning CPR, start today! Not only are there many free or low-cost CPR training classes in San Diego, there are thousands of free resources online (such as the many guides and tutorial videos on the website of the American Heart Association). It always helps to be prepared to make a difference.