School Required To Teach CPR Before Graduation. 2 Weeks Later, Student Saves Man's Life
If you’re walking down the street and you see someone suddenly collapse, do you know what to do?
High School senior Anthony Rosa Compres did, thanks to a New York State law and his CPR teacher, Oswaldo De La Cruz.
Student saves life just days after learning CPR at high school https://t.co/wFxrFcnqeX pic.twitter.com/uAXoKfdHU0
— KFOR (@kfor) April 14, 2018
The state of New York passed a law in 2015 that requires all New York City high school seniors to be CPR certified before graduation.
Because of that law, Compres knew exactly what to do when a man collapsed beside him on the sidewalk.
He made sure 911 was called and proceeded to give the stranger 30 compressions in the center of the chest, mouth-to-mouth, and another 30 compressions until the paramedics arrived.
According to the American Heart Association, the compressions should be “hard and fast.” More specifically, the compressions should be at the rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute.
Many like to use the song “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees as a guide. The chorus goes, “Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive.”
Compres was able to use his skills just two weeks after he learned them at his school!
Mark Hurley, who is with the American Heart Association, says that this story is a great example of why it’s so important to get certified.
“It’s great anytime you hear a success story and you hear it kinda often, ‘Yeah I just learned CPR and then I used it like two weeks later,'” he said, “It just proves that it works.”
“He will be the bridge between the victim and 911 so, he did a good job,” De La Cruz said as he patted Compres on the back.
Both Compres and De La Cruz received the NYC Heartsavers Hero Award from the American Heart Association in recognition of their life-saving acts.
Thanks to Compres’ training and quick thinking, he was able to save that man’s life! When Compres was asked if he was a hero, he shyly admitted, “Yes.”
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