Entire Bergen County School District Renews CPR Certification

HILLSDALE, NJ — For the second time, the entire Pascack Valley Regional High School District has been recertified in CPR.

The 2,300 students, teachers, faculty and staff were first certified in 2015. The certification is valid for two years.

The state actually requires that every school must have a defibrillator on site, an emergency action plan in place and have at least five staff members trained and certified in CPR.

The district-wide certification plan was implemented after a member of the high school track team collapsed and went into cardiac arrest. Fortunately, CPR-certified students and staff were nearby and helped save the student's life.

With the Board of Education's approval, officials decided that every member of the district should be certified. Health teachers were certified first and then they integrated the CPR training into their curriculums.

"Some of the students have even gone on to become certified EMTs," said Barry Bachenheimer's the district's Director of Curriculum, who is an EMT and CPR trainer. "We think that it is good training for everyone to have, not just to possibly use in school, but for the community too."

And students have taken the education beyond the walls of their schools. About a dozen students are certified EMTs or first responders with the TriBoro, Hillsdale and River Vale volunteer ambulance squads.

The American Heart Association noticed the district's effort and awarded the Pascack Valley their annual Lifesaver Award in 2016.

Email daniel.hubbard@patch.com. Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.

Patch file photo of kids attending CPR training.