CPR, Medical Basics for Babysitters Training

The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) at Pierce Middle School in Milton and Pro EMS Center for MEDICS are collaborating on an innovative Heart Health Awareness Month kick-off event that also serves as a fundraiser for the school. On Saturday, February 1, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., a variety of CPR classes will be offered in the Pierce Middle School gymnasium. Participants will learn lifesaving techniques to implement in an emergency situation, and will leave with certification cards that day. 

Three types of classes are scheduled for the event: Heartsaver CPR, BLS for Healthcare Providers, and Medical Basics for Babysitters. Heartsaver CPR is open to everyone, and includes instruction on compression-only adult CPR and choking, as well as the use of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) on an adult or child (not infant). This course is offered at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1 p.m. and the registration fee is $25.

BLS for Healthcare Providers allows current medical professionals to obtain or renew their required certifications. The course teaches CPR skills for helping victims of all ages (including ventilation with a barrier device, a bag-mask device, and oxygen), use of an AED, and relief of foreign-body airway obstruction. This course is offered at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., and 1 p.m. and the registration fee is $35.

Due to its proximity to Boston and its world-renowned medical facilities, Milton has a high number of residents who work as medical professionals and healthcare providers. 

“People are asking me if it’s true that they can leave with their certification credentials that day,” said Karyn Viveiros, a member of the Pierce PTO Leadership Team. “It’s incredibly convenient for them!”

Adolescents between the ages of 11 and 13 are eligible to register for Medical Basics for Babysitters, which provides instruction on pediatric and infant CPR and AED, as well as recognizing an emergency situation and how to respond. Medical Basics for Babysitters runs at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and costs $25.

“We love the Babysitter class offering,” said Pierce Middle School Principal, Dr. Karen Spaulding, “because it offers a connection for the kids. In the end, it’s usually the parents who participate in traditional fundraisers. This is the age when kids start caring for younger siblings and other children, so creating a situation where they become more knowledgeable and aware is incredibly age-appropriate.”

Instructors from Fallon Ambulance and the Milton Fire Department will work with instructors from Pro EMS and Pro EMS Center for MEDICS to train the participants in all three classes. 

“We are grateful to Fallon Ambulance for their help in offering these classes to a large number of people at one time,” said Danielle Thomas, Director of Pro EMS Center for MEDICS. “The survival rates of cardiac arrest victims decrease by 10% every minute they go without AED intervention. These skills are critical in saving lives, and we appreciate the opportunity to bring that knowledge to so many people in Milton.”

All proceeds from class registration fees will be donated to the Pierce Middle School PTO. The PTO raises funds to pay for field trips, educational guest speakers for students and parents, teacher appreciation efforts, and social events for the students. To register or ask questions about the event, please email the Pierce PTO at PierceMiddlePTO@gmail.com.

“We’re so thankful for the incredible generosity of the instructors, to donate their time and knowledge to our community. The fundraising benefit is really secondary,” said Spaulding. “This event has evolved into a fantastic community event, and in the end, we’ll have this full cadre of people who can save someone’s life. Being the center point of that is really exciting.”