Ashlee Wellman, right, a lifeguard with Las Vegas Lifeguards 2U, demonstrates how to give lifesaving CPR on a dummy during a CPR training class for parents and students at Roger D. Gehring Elementary.
Friday, Feb. 6, 2009 | 10:46 a.m.
Students and parents knelt over the miniature mannequins, two fingers from blue-gloved hands pressing lightly on the mock-infant's chest.
During Roger D. Gehring Elementary School's first CPR instruction class, held Feb. 4, attendees were able to aid in the goal of sending the fourth graders on a spring trip to Carson City as well as gain some skills that may one day help them in the case of an emergency.
"You just never know when you're going to need this," said Principal Sandy Brody.
It's a good thing for the parents to know and also a lot of these students are of the age to babysit, she said.
Ashlie Williams and Ashlee Wellman, certified CPR instructors who were volunteering their time for the evening, walked the small group through lessons on giving CPR to adults, children and infants as well as lessons on how to remove an object that is obstructing an airway.
Attendees had the option of paying $20 and receiving certification following the two-hour class or paying $10 to learn the skills without getting certified.
PTA President Maria Moilanen said the skills that were taught were the same as those used by professional rescuers.
Mother and PTA member Kim Murray said she decided to attend because no one in her family had any idea how to do CPR.
Murray was joined in the class by her two sons Lukas Rush, 12, and Blair Rush, 9.
"It's just me and my kids ... if someone is going to save me it's going to be my kids," she said.
Murray said she was a little bit skeptical about her younger son gaining everything possible from the class, but that in the end, he absolutely loved it.
"He came home and was testing us about what to do ... he had it A to Z," she said.
Williams said it can be difficult to teach younger children the skills because they don't grasp the concepts quite as quick, but that she has learned if she's repetitive they'll get it.
In addition to the CPR class, the school is seeking to fund the Carson City trip through a partnership with CiCi's Pizza. The restaurant, at 9890 S. Maryland Parkway in the same shopping center as Smith's, will donate 10 percent of sales on the first Thursday of the month to the school up until the students' May trip.
Ashley Livingston can be reached at 990-8925 or [email protected].
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