The American Heart Association (AHA) and the Los Angeles Rams provided hands-on instruction of key lifesaving procedures for educators from 21 LA schools, including three from the San Fernando Valley. Participants were trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) in the Rams locker room at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
According to AHA data, nearly 9 out of 10 people who experience cardiac arrest outside a hospital setting die, in part because they don’t receive immediate CPR over half of the time. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a person’s chance of survival.
“Early recognition and action in a cardiac emergency are the difference between life and death. When seconds matter, it is important to have people nearby who are … capable of beginning CPR,” said Nancy Brown, CEO of AHA. “With every CPR training we perform, we are one step closer to ensuring that everyone … [can] become a vital link in the chain of survival.”
In addition to the training, the Rams are donating resources to all 21 participating schools, including Technology Preparatory Academy in San Fernando, North Hollywood Senior High School in North Hollywood, and Taft Charter High School in Woodland Hills.
Each school is receiving an AHA CPR in Schools kit, which includes 10 hands-only CPR manikins and 10 AED training tools, along with the curriculum to train additional students, faculty, staff members and parents. During the recent training at SoFi Stadium, participating representatives from each school learned how to use their new resources, including the correct rate and depth of compressions. In addition, five schools received an AED for their campus.