I am Mahika and I
am a senior in high school.During my Sophomore year, I became a certified
Emergency Medical Responder. Within the following months I became an American
Heart Association Basic Life Support CPR and First Aid instructor and have been
teaching classes for Westport EMS since
I was in 8th grade when my family and I
were attending our New Year celebration. The room was crowded and hot but we
were all having an amazing time. Suddenly, Suresh Uncle, my friend’s
grandfather became unresponsive. My mother, an EMT and a Homeopath, rushed to
the man’s side and began performing CPR after directing someone to activate
911. Soon after, the ambulance arrived and the EMS took over care.
One could never
imagine that a person that was laughing, smiling, dancing, surrounded by his
loved ones, the epitome of health, could suddenly collapse the way he did. I
saw my mother’s quick action and it made me realize the importance of people
being comfortable in performing CPR. The more people we can train in CPR and
the use of an AED confidently, the more people we’ll have who will be willing
to step out of the crowd and help save a life.
I have
witnessed and heard of several stories of when CPR and the prompt use of an AED
helped save lives. Those stories and accounts motivated me not only to learn
more, but also want to teach this life saving skill. Although I came to
the conclusion that I may not want to study medicine, I plan to continue
teaching the CPR and First aid classes as well as continue to volunteer as an
Emergency Medical Responder.
Project Explore:
At Norwalk High School, there is an optional course called Project Explore,
which is an opportunity for seniors to do an independent project of their
choice. Working as a CPR instructor, I realized the need for training and AEDs
at my school. The Connecticut state law mandates that all schools must have
Automated External Defibrillators (AED) on campus, and have a certain number of
faculty members trained in their use, “if the funds are available.”
Norwalk High School did
not have AEDs so, at the end of my junior year, I decided I would make it my
senior project to work towards acquiring AEDs for my school and get as many
students and faculty members trained in CPR and the use of AEDs as possible.
Fortunately, over the summer the AEDs were purchased and installed in all the
schools in Norwalk! I am now continuing with the more important piece of my
Project Explore, which is the training.
For the few past months,with
the help of my co-instructors at WEMS I have been organizing and
teaching classes all throughout the school district for faculty and students.
Dec 7th 2014: Brookside Elementary
Dec 15th: Norwalk High
Dec 22nd: Marvin Elementary
Jan 5th: Nathan Hale
Middle
Jan 12th: Wolfpit Elementary
It has been a humbling experience to be presenting
to those that were my teachers and peers, elementary through high school.My
goal is to teach, at the minimum, all the faculty in Norwalk Public Schools
before the end of April 2015.
I can be reached at mahikaa@yahoo.com to schedule a
class or for more information.
