Presented my grant proposal to buy
manikins & a trainer AED for the Norwalk High school students on March 31st 2014 at the Norwalk
Education Foundation's "Classroom Innovation Grants a la Shark
Tank." Senator Duff took time out to come see the presentations and State
Rep. Fred Wilms, was one of the judges. If you feel this life saving skill
which can be covered in a 30 minute class should be part of the High
school curriculum in Connecticut as it is in 21 other states, and would like to
voice your support for Senate Bill 684 you can write to our State Senator Bob Duff at
duff@senatedems.ct.gov or use the following link to contact your
legislator: http://www.senatedems.ct.gov/find/findlegislator.asp
Mahika Jhangiani
NEF Grant Proposal
1. Describe
your proposal with a short project description, including timeline, goals and
how you will sustain in subsequent years after NEF funding is over?
I hope to get this grant and be able
to use the money to purchase training manikins and training AEDs for the 2 High
Schools in Norwalk. Hands-Only CPR is 30-minute non-certification class,
which covers Hands-Only CPR, the use of an AED and how to relieve an obstructed
airway. This class does not need to be taught by a certified instructor, since
it is mainly an informational class, which would teach students what to do in
case of an emergency. Purchasing the manikins and AEDs would allow students to
get hands on experience in performing chest compressions. This psychomotor
component would allow students to become confident in performing CPR and allow
them to become the lifesaving people that are so needed.
These
manikins and AEDs would be a one-time purchase. Once they are bought
there is no other investment needed. The only cost that I foresee is
"batteries" for the trainer AED every couple of weeks or so. This
quick 30 minute class can be taught in health classes and students will get to
practice compressions on the manikins as well use the AED. The manikins and
AEDs could be easily shared between the two high schools in our district
(Norwalk High School and Brien McMahon).
2. How will
this project enhance your school? How will it engage students, improve learning
or pilot a new and innovative idea?
This
project will not only enhance my school, but the community as well. Students
will not only learn CPR, but also get to practice how to perform it. The
more students that are trained in CPR, the more people there will be in our
community that will have the confidence to step out of a crowd and save a life
from sudden cardiac arrest. The implementation of this 30-minute Hands-Only CPR
classes in our schools and allowing students to practice on manikins, could
make the difference between life and death for someone. This could also be
student’s first exposure to the field of medicine.
Please check my blog for success
stories where teenagers have saved lives by performing CPR. http://2steps2savealife.blogspot.com
3. What
inspired this idea? What research have you done to make sure it’s a worthwhile
idea? Can you provide any examples of this idea being implemented in other
schools?
As
a part of my senior project, "Save a Life," 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. 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
AEDs were installed throughout the Norwalk Public Schools, which allowed me to
focus on the second, more important component of my project, training the
faculty and students.
I
was inspired to become and Emergency Medical Responder and CPR instructor when
I heard the stories of many instances when "bystander CPR" saved
lives. It really hit me, when I heard about Harrison Malec and Adam Greenle in
Westport, who were both under the age of 14 when they went into cardiac arrest.
Thanks to the quick action of their friends, nurses, and teachers, who
performed CPR and used the AED, the two were resuscitated and are both alive
and well today.
At
Norwalk High School in our health class we were taught CPR but because we do
not have manikins and AEDs we did not get the opportunity to practice how to
effectively perform CPR and use an AED. Here in Connecticut, in some of
the high schools in our neighboring towns like Weston, Westport, and Greenwich,
students are trained in CPR and the use of an AED. Their local EMS organizations
support the classes and the communities/schools themselves have also raised
money for the AEDS and manikins.
There
are 21 states in America, which have made CPR training mandatory in schools. On
February 23rd, 2015, I was invited by the American Heart Association to testify
in support of Senate Bill 684, concerning increased training in Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation and for it to specifically include CPR and AED training in
schools, for the Public Health Committee at the Connecticut State Legislative
Office in Hartford. If Senate Bill 684 is passed, training in CPR and the use
of an AED will become a requirement for High School Graduation in state of
Connecticut, too.
4. How much
will this cost? Please provide a complete budget with costs for all items.
After
research and discussion with Mr. Marchetti, we think the best manikins to buy
are the Prestan Manikins with a monitor. A four pack of these manikins can be
purchased for $485. These have lights on them by the shoulder, which let the
student know if they are performing the chest compressions at the correct depth
and rate. The health department already has one trainer AED, which is a trainer
for the real AEDs that were installed in 2014 throughout our school district.
LIFEPAK trainer AEDs can be purchased for $346. Since there already is one
trainer AED, I think it is only necessary to purchase one more. A four pack of
manikins and a Trainer AED could be purchased for $831. Although this is over
the NEF grant of $500, I plan on doing some extra fundraising to cover the
balance cost.
Four Pack
Prestan Manikins: http://www.eworldpoint.com/en/Products/CPR-Training-SuppliesEquipment/CPR-Manikins/Prestan-Manikin-4-Pack-wCPR-Monitor_-_PAK100/#.VQJX46WDpuY
LIFEPAK Trainer AED: http://www.aedsuperstore.com/physio-control-lifepak-cr-t-aed-training-system.html
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