ORLANDO, Fla. – Fifty teenagers are now certified in CPR after completing free training through the Orlando Fire Department’s Teen Academy, a weeklong program that gives high school students an inside look at careers in the fire service.
The participants, ages 14 to 17, went through a full CPR certification course aimed at teaching them how to act quickly during cardiac arrest emergencies and provide critical help before first responders arrive.
During the multi-hour session, students practiced chest compressions, rescue breaths and the proper use of an Automated External Defibrillator, or AED, with instruction covering both adults and infants.
“It’s been very fun, very fun. Very exhausting,” 15-year-old Olivia Thomas told News 6.
“It’s good to practice, it’s good to keep practicing every chance you get.”
The training is offered through the city’s Take Heart Orlando initiative, which provides free hands-only CPR instruction to Orlando residents and offers certified CPR courses at a reduced cost.
Officials say the skills can make a crucial difference. Each minute that passes without CPR lowers a cardiac arrest patient’s chance of survival by 10%. With first responders typically arriving within four to six minutes, a patient’s survival rate can fall to between 40% and 60% when no bystander CPR is performed.
“If we get more people hands-only CPR or learn CPR in general, that would make for a safer city,” Orlando Fire Department Public Information Officer Jesse Canales said.
Beyond CPR, Teen Academy students will receive Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, including participation in a mock disaster scenario where they can apply the skills they’ve learned.
CERT members are trained in disaster response techniques including light search and rescue, fire safety, basic first aid, CPR, and Stop the Bleed.
After finishing the course, participants received CPR certification valid for two years.
“It’s great because you never know what can happen. It could be you and your friends somewhere, it could be you and a whole group of people, and you’re the only one who knows CPR, so it’s good to be certified and know how to save someone’s life,” Thomas said.
