Nurses, firefighters train school employees with life-saving skills

(CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Nurses in Madison City Schools teamed with Madison firefighters to teach skills that can save lives.

Registered nurses Nancy Bocchino and Bonnie Davis coordinate employee training for CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and automated external defibrillators (AED).

Bocchino works as the district’s health educator, and Davis is the district’s nursing supervisor. They also work as nurses for Bob Jones High School.

CPR and AED training is a state requirement for all coaches and physical education teachers in public schools, public relations manager John Peck said. Approximately 140 employees and school volunteers are certified in CPR/AED.

“We partnered with the Madison Fire and Rescue Department,” Bocchino said. Capt. Russ Kennington led the effort for the firefighters with this training. “We felt this partnership was a win-win situation for Madison City Schools.”

About 75 employees in Madison schools were re-certified in the life-saving tactics. Training sessions were held at Bob Jones High School in mid-August.

The Madison firefighters are keeping costs down for school employees by only charging $5 for the CPR/AED card. “And the fire department wants to get as many citizens in Madison certified in CPR/AED … for obvious reasons,” Bocchino said.

CPR/AED certification is valid for a two-year period. “However, Madison City Schools requires a skills check-off in the non-renewal year. We did the skills check last year and there was no charge to employees that held current certification,” Bocchino said.

“Acting quickly in the event of a cardiac emergency is extremely important, even if the person only does chest compressions,” Bocchino said. “But it’s very important to do those compressions correctly, such as hand placement, depth and pace of compressions.”

Bocchino believes the partnership between the school system and fire department was an effective approach. “Hopefully, many lives will be saved,” she said.