Lakeland Regional Health is pleased to train several hundred high school and youth coaches to be certified in life-saving automated external defibrillator and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) techniques, beginning Saturday, April 24, and continuing through June 12.
“This is much-needed, long-awaited training. Our parents need to know that if something happens, we have people properly trained to address the situation. It’s important they know their student-athletes are in good hands,” said Dan Talbot, Senior Athletics Coordinator for Polk County Public Schools. “For Lakeland Regional Health to step in and help us meet the requirements of the new state law is truly amazing. We’re so appreciative that we have people in our community we can partner with for this common goal: the safety and well-being of our student-athletes.”
This training is free and open to public, private, and charter school coaches. The classes are taking place at schools throughout Polk County.
This training is part of the Zachary Martin Act signed into law last year. Beginning June 1, those coaching in the Florida High School Athletic Association must be CPR and AED certified.
The bill requires, beginning June 1, 2021, a school employee or volunteer with current training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and AED use to be present at each athletic event during and outside of the school year. Each employee or volunteer expected to use an AED must complete this training and be annually notified in writing of each AED’s location.
Lakeland Regional Health’s clinical nursing team members are leading each session. Certification is good through 2023.
“We are pleased to collaborate with Polk County Public Schools to offer this life-saving training, as we know time is of the essence in individuals experiencing sudden cardiac arrest,” said Patrick Phillips, Lakeland Regional Health Senior Vice President of Business Development/Chief Strategy Officer. “At Lakeland Regional Health, we are committed to reaching beyond the walls of our Medical Center to strengthen the health of our community.”