Bremen Students Pass on Their Knowledge to Local Middle Schoolers

In late February, Bremen High School Child Care 2 teacher Kim Flannigan and four of her students traveled to St. George School in Tinley Park. While there, they taught 12 eighth-graders how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) machine, administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the Heimlich Maneuver, and apply general first aid.

The two-and-a-half-hour training kicked off with Flannigan and Bremen students teaching St. George students how to administer CPR. While it takes eight hours to officially become CPR certified (which all Child Care 2 students are), children as young as 9 years old can learn how to apply CPR and potentially save someone’s life.

St. George students practiced and learned CPR on several mannequins including an adult, child, and baby mannequin. They used the same mannequins to then practice using an AED machine.

“Most people expect AED machines to only be found in hospitals,” says Flannigan. “But they are also found in malls, schools, and other public buildings that generally have a lot of people in them.”

While students learned how to use the AED machine, they also discussed where they would most likely be able to find one in a large public building. This knowledge gives students the confidence to potentially be able to save someone’s life in an emergency situation.

St. George students also learned the lifesaving Heimlich Maneuver which is commonly used to save a life when someone is choking. Similarly to learning CPR and how to use the AED machine, students practiced the maneuver on adult, child, and baby mannequins.

Flannigan also showed students the American Red Cross First Aid App which will provide general steps and knowledge of what to do in various emergency situations. Because many of the students are athletes, they also had questions about asthma, how to use an EpiPen (Epinephrine Auto Injector), and how to compress a wound. All of which were answered and addressed by Bremen students and Flannigan.

Child Care 2 is an elective course at Bremen High School that follows Child Care 1. In this class, Child Care 2 students are certified in first aid, CPR, and are declared mandated reporters. Students also receive their Level 1 Early Childhood Education Credential at the end of the year. There are a total of seven early childhood education credentials, and all seven are required in order to own a daycare. Being certified at level one helps students get a head start on these career pathways. Most notably, their certification provides them the necessary skills and knowledge to make themselves marketable for positions in daycares, babysitting, or other jobs that include the care of young children.

Child Care 2 students work every day with students who attend Bremen High School’s preschool program which includes preschoolers from the local neighborhood. The program guarantees a 2:1 student to preschooler ratio which allows local children to get the absolute care and attention they need from Child Care 2 students. The program runs 10:00 am – 12:00 pm October through May and 9:00 am – 1:00 pm March 19 through May 5. Registration for the program opens to the community in late May.

Child Care 2 students also host Bremen High School’s Annual Bring Your Child to Work Day which will take place on April 24 this year.

For more information about Child Care 1 and 2 courses at Bremen High School, or to inquire about registering a child to the daycare program, please contact Kim Flannigan at kflannigan@bhsd228.com.