One of several FirstHealth employees certified to teach the American Heart Association’s “Heart Saver CPR” instructor class, Kearns recently helped train more than 20 physical education teachers, health teachers and coaches from the Moore County school system.
On June 3, local educators became qualified to teach CPR to students, including eighth graders. Learning CPR is required by the state for eighth-grade health and physical education students.
“Teaching students CPR is a great benefit because students can carry those skills with them and be prepared at any moment — at school, out in the community and at the one place where most cardiac arrests occur, which is in the home,” said Kearns, who is coordinator of FirstHealth American Heart Association Community Training.
Kearns, Linda Cooke of FirstHealth Corporate Education, Tommy Cook of FirstHealth EMS-Richmond, Donna Strong of FirstHealth EMS-Montgomery and Helen Christensen of FirstHealth Harnett Medical Transport provided CPR instructor training.
FirstHealth school nurses Marsha Hudson, Lynn Lewis, Jane Wetsel and Judy Oldham and School Health Manager Phyllis Magnuson assisted.
John Corio, director of science, physical education and athletics for the Moore County Schools, helped coordinate the event.
“The benefits of this certification for teachers are immeasurable,” Magnuson said. “It’s win-win all the way around. Even though faculty gave up their last day of school to become certified instructors, they can be assured that one day a life will be saved by a teacher or a student of a teacher in this class.”
