West Orange Teens Are Learning Lifesaving Skills In The Classroom

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Two captains from the West Orange Fire Department recently took out some time from their schedules to meet with local high school students – and teach them some lifesaving skills.

West Orange High School students get the chance to learn CPR as part of a course that’s taken by every 12^th grader to fulfill their health education requirement as seniors. During the quarter-long course, students learn all the necessary steps to take before giving care to an adult, child and infant in CPR. They also learn how to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) machine, how to care for both the conscious and unconscious choking victim and basic first aid.

Students have the opportunity to get certified in adult and pediatric first aid/CPR/AED at the end of the course. All the CPR teachers at the high school are American Red Cross-certified instructors, and have the ability to certify students right in their classrooms.

Last month, captains Joe Matullo and Rich Mulligan from the West Orange Fire Department paid a visit to the high school to give students some extra insight.

Matullo and Mulligan discussed what happens on a 911 call requiring CPR, from the dispatcher to the EMTs to the hospital. They also shared some personal accounts of calls that went well – and a few that did not.

The two firefighters also reinforced the need for smoke detectors in every home and how important they are to saving lives.

It was a well-received visit, health and physical education teacher Jeff Mazurek said.

“I very much appreciate the time the WOFD takes to meet with our students and talk about their personal experiences as first responders in our community,” Mazurek said. “Captain Matullo and Captain Mulligan – both WOHS graduates – really helped our students to understand the importance of being prepared in an emergency situation, and that the students’ responses to an emergency can make a positive difference in someone’s life.”

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