WHEATON, Mo. -- A tragic event is now fueling a passion. Two Wheaton Elementary teachers are using a life changing event to help bring CPR into the classroom.
There are few people in the Wheaton School district that don't remember what happened to Elementary teacher Sally Sharp January 19, 2011. After that day, Sally made a promise. On February 22, 2012 she gets to fulfill that promise.
"We'll preach to anyone that will listen." That was Wheaton teacher Sally Sharp one year ago when she sat down with KY3.
"I just remember thinking, 'please God don't let me die.'"
Sally suddenly collapsed during lunch. It's a day her coworker Melissa Creed remembers well.
"She wasn't breathing. I couldn't find a pulse. I wasn't trained at CPR at the time," Creed said, "which I regret."
"I'm am sitting here talking to you," Sally said, "because Nurse Dana knew CPR."
Sally was later diagnosed with Prolonged QT--a rare heart condition--and had a type of pacemaker installed in her body. "Actually today is Merlin's anniversary," Sally said, "my ICD, a year ago today I got that put in."
Now, Sally is using her experience to bring CPR to the classroom. "This is something that to me is a no brainer," Sally said.
Sally and Melissa are heading to the state capital to tell their story to lawmakers in hopes of passing House Bill 1337.
"It is designed to be flexible for school districts. They are not requiring a full CPR certification," said American Heart Association spokesperson Stephen Hall.
It does require each high school to provide some CPR instruction and make it a graduation requirement. "What we want people to know is that some CPR, is better than no CPR." Hall said. "We want people to feel empowered to intervene in an emergency."
Because in an emergency seconds count. "For every minute that someone is left down without intervention, there chance of survival drops by 10%," Hall said.
Melissa and Sally hope they can help the proposed law survive--to protect the lives of their students, fellow teachers, and the community.
"When something affects your life to this degree, you become extremely passionate," said Creed. "It's something I definitely believe in."
"For me to sit here and just let this bill go by and say nothing," Sally said, "well I just can't do that. I can't."
The bill is in the hearing stage right now. If it passes it will take effect the 2014-2015 school year. The instruction itself may be part of a health education course and must include hands-on practice and skill testing.
Schools may develop agreements with any local chapter of a voluntary organization of first responders to provide the required hands-on practice and skills testing.
LEARN HOW TO DO HANDS ONLY CPR
