Attention school administrators,
Over Yom Tov, we had a scare which really opened our eyes.
A family member of ours began choking at a meal, and it got very serious. B’H a neighbor of ours is an EMT and one of my kids ran over to get him. He was able to do the Heimlich Maneuver on him, saving his life.
After the dust settled, we were all discussing the scary incident and we all realized how ridiculous it was that none of us knew basic first aid skills.
Then, my daughter piped on and said, “instead of learning all these stupid subjects in school which nobody will ever use in life, why don’t the schools actually teach something useful?”
We all looked at each other and said, “this girl has a point. She is 100% right.”
The truth is, every single school should be teaching kids the basics of CPR, first aid and other important life skills. There’s no reason a child in school isn’t taught basic skills they can use in life and possibly even save a life with these skills.
I’m writing in hopes school administrators out there take this seriously and begin incorporating these life-saving subjects into their school’s classes – or at least as an extracurricular option.
Thank you for reading,
A Lakewood mother.
TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to [email protected].
How about YOU teach it to your kids? Why always put all responsibility on the school??
Not sure why everything has to be pointed at school administrators.
We actually did learn this in school in BYHS in BP…
There are various ads in the publications for CPR training. Avail yourself of them! Frankly, if you are allowing your kids to determine which subjects are worthwhile and which aren’t, whose to say that they will take First Aid and CPR classes seriously? Go ask the first aid instructors in the various schools if the kids are as polite, receptive and disciplined as they are in their “serious” classes. (I happen to have some inside info regarding that….)
Those stupid subjects you learn about in school are meant help you with each and every day so that way you’re not dependent on others and you can actually earn a living for yourself and your family.
Your learn mathematics so that way you can count and keep track of your finances you learn how to read and write so that way you’re not ignorant. Kind of important.
We’re safety obsessed as a society ,has a lot to do with being self-absorbed. We did not come to this world to be safe we came to accomplish. if you want to accomplish you need to be educated.
Learning CPR might help you once in a lifetime on average which is important but education will help you every minute of every day you’re actually accomplishing something.
you can still be succesful without knowing advanced secular subjects if you can basic read and write (doesn’t have to be so fancy) you can add and subtract you’re good. what’s the point of algebra and knowing science we have doctors baruch hashem
and those doctors learned these subjects by osmosis?
Lol
Sorry but all 3 commentators are dead wrong!!
As a veteran HATZALAH member, I can assure you with absolute certainty that the 2 days it takes to train a trainable child in the basics of Heimlich and CPR, may (and has) save a life.
It isn’t replacing any subject. Its 2-3 days out of an entire school year.
Nuf said
Don’t count on school administrators. They have no interest in doing anything different. Actually they are afraid for their jobs. So they just keep things as they are. We need real leaders that care more about the next generation, than their pay check or job title.
Girl isn’t 100% right.. maybe 20%… everything that’s taught in school CAN be used in daily life depending on what field your children plan on going into. That being said there are first aid and cpr courses all the time that you can send them too if you are really concerned. Emt’s become emt’s because they want to help people, so if you really feel someone should know it you or your child should go to a course. The schools that aren’t paid full tuition by every family don’t need to spend the money to educate on extra curriculum stuff. Also you should educate yourself and children hatzalah of lakewood’s number. They have an amazing response time in pretty much every area in lakewood and surrounding towns.
In summary, go out and take a cpr and first aid course with your children and have lakewood hatzalahs number handy if g-d forbid you need it
I don’t know what school you send to but in BAIS KAILA they teach first aid and CPR
Why wait for high school? This should be taught to elementary students in all Yeshivos and girl schools.
My school taught CPR and first aide and so do most of the Lakewood high schools.
My son learnt basic first aid, CPR, & the heimlach maneuver with a certification at the end at Yeshiva Torahs Aron. It did not replace any other subject and was taught in a serious but fun manner for the boys as a EC. As a former NYC 911 EMT I can personally say its vital all people know these skills, even with hazalahs fast response times.
My daughter learned CPS and first aid in 9th grade and again during her lifeguarding courses. I believe most GIRLS high schools do teach this.
why didn’t you call Hatzolah?
you kinda missed the point…
In case you are not aware, at this time there IS A BEAUTIFUL FIRST AID PROGRAM BEING TAUGHT IN OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS all across the country. The program was created by Vaad Refuah and it is called Save-A-Life. It is a very clear, easy to learn, FREE program taught in all the schools which signed up for it. It teaches children how to respond to various emergencies until help arrives. The lessons instill confidence in the students and teach skills that children have already put to use in real-life emergencies.
If your child’s school has not yet signed up this wonderful program, all you have to do is let the school know that you want your child to learn these practical, useful skills. They can then call Vaad Refuah at 877-973-3824 to find out how to have the Save-A-Life program brought to their school.
THE PROGRAM IS FREE AND HAS ALREADY SAVED LIVES.
I teach CPR & First Aid. It’s not for free, but there are others in Lakewood that don’t Charge.
Calling for help isn’t good enough, because every Second Counts!
Let’s start by tracking you the proper procedures to do in the event of an emergency. PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL FOR HELP !!!! How did you know for sure your neighbor was home ?? Maybe he was sleeping?? Maybe he was in the bathroom with the worst stomach ache of his life ?? seriously. Seconds count !!! Please teach your children the proper phone numbers . Wasting time looking for a neighbor is such a big mistake. This has happened in the past and the results were tragic R”L . There are babysitting courses that kids can take which teach them First Aid & CPR . They have them for adults as well. Take a course, the life you save might be your own.
Let’s start by teaching you the proper procedures to do in the event of an emergency. PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL FOR HELP !!!! How did you know for sure your neighbor was home ?? Maybe he was sleeping?? Maybe he was in the bathroom with the worst stomach ache of his life ?? seriously. Seconds count !!! Please teach your children the proper phone numbers . Wasting time looking for a neighbor is such a big mistake. This has happened in the past and the results were tragic R”L . There are babysitting courses that kids can take which teach them First Aid & CPR . They have them for adults as well. Take a course, the life you save might be your own.
I went to a lakewood high school and when a teacher was out on leave we had a substitute whose subject was first aid. I am embarrassed to say, but nobody was interested. It is not the school we should blame but ourselves. We should have realized the importance of first aid and CPR. I luckily took lifeguarding so I learned the ropes but my certificate has expired and this is a good reminder to refresh my skills.
Thank you.
My sons school teaches it in 7th grade towards the end of the year, with certified instructors and cpr card when passed the test! And in 8th grade there’s a refresher course!
The Save-A-Life program (mentioned before) currently being taught in elementary schools is really terrific. My daughter actually saved a kid’s life cause she learned the heimlich maneuver from the Save-A-Life program. I think all the schools should sign up. It’s a fantastic program and it’s free! A win-win!
It is truly vital for everyone to now basic first aid skills!!! when it comes to choking, seconds count! Calling Hatzala and then having them come may take too long. Also maybe here in lakewood we have hatzala members that can BH come within minutes but what if you’re away? Out of town or on vacation- help isnt always available instantly.
I offer free CPR first day courses for adults in Lakewood. As long as you organize the course in a neighborhood so everyone can get their easily without having to travel too far I will come to your place to do the course. I’ve given many such courses and would like to continue doing so. I teach both men and women in separate courses kaisman 908-670-1791
Wow! Tizku lmitzvos