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 By Carolyn P. Smith
Fourteen-year-old Erica McCaskill said she wanted to learn how to do CPR on people in case of emergencies and to possibly earn better pay on a future job.
She was one of 20 students who are part of the Work Experience and Career Exploration Program at East St. Louis Senior High School and took CPR training at school Wednesday.
Loretta Brock-Longstreet, coordinator of the career program, said although her students are ninth-graders, everyone should take CPR training.
“When Robrosha Stockett, a former classmate, was struck by a drunken driver in Alorton on Jan. 24, she laid on the ground for 30 minutes because no one at the scene knew how to perform CPR or any emergency scene treatment,” Brock-Longstreet said.
Robrosha stopped at the Work Experience and Career Exploration Program the Friday before she was killed to make sure she was registered for the class.
“She would’ve been in this class,” Brock-Longstreet said.
From 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., two certified American Red Cross CPR instructors, Edith Blackburn and Mike Wood, used videos and mannequins to teach the students first aid, CPR for adults, children and infants and workplace safety.
Blackburn said she hoped by the end of the day, the students would be able to jump into action and help to preserve a human life if they are called to.
Students learned how to jump-start a heart, and how to tie tourniquets, and other first aid bandaging. They learned the difference between first, second and third-degree burns and what to do to treat them.
They learned about chemical and electrical burns, mosquito and spider bites and how to distinguish the difference between them.
Sharmea Farmer, 14, was glad the instructors visited the high school.
“I can even pass my skills on to my family members and friends. And, if I am left with a baby who chokes or something, I will know what to do,” she said.
And when all the training was done, the students took five multiple choice tests with 10 questions. Those who passed the exams received their CPR training cards.
Brock-Longstreet said if the students pass the training, the certification can help them land higher paying jobs or promotions at some companies.
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