The CPR Challenge is not a competition; its goal is to improve public safety by offering recertification and full certification classes in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other emergency skills.
Josh Powell, a sophomore in forest management and CPR instructor, explained why learning CPR is important.
“I’ve worked EMS for six years now and [have] seen many situations where we’d go to people’s houses…where if the family had known CPR they could have helped the person … knowing this can help save lives,” Powell said.
Because it considers CPR an important skill, Campus Recreation offers different ways for University community members to earn certification.
“We started offering [CPR training] a couple years ago … to the University community, for students, staff, faculty, to come take classes here on campus. Before that time, you’d have to go the American Red Cross to take classes,” Assistant Director of Campus Recreation Peter Koutroumpis said.
”This is all fairly new to campus, but it is picking up a lot of energy and interest,” Koutroumpis said.
The CPR Challenge is part of a larger goal to increase CPR certification on campus. According to Koutroumpis, knowing CPR can be important in certain jobs.
“Many people are going to become teachers, camp counselors, or [have] other jobs that require them to have it,” Koutroumpis said.
Although some people earn certification for professional reasons, Campus Recreation hopes that other people will learn the life-saving skill.
“We are heading upon everywhere on campus to make it an environment where people generally in the student body would have [CPR certification], not only in work places where you would expect it,” Koutroumpis said.
For those who are unable to attend a session at the Challenge, Campus Recreation offers other opportunities to earn certification.
“The CPR Challenge is, we’ll call it a focus event, but we have classes going on every month that people can sign up for,” Koutroumpis said.
Campus Recreation is also organizing classes for groups that request them.
“The other thing that we are doing this year, for the first time, is to be able to offer customized programs to different campus groups. … If people want to get certified, and there is a common time, we can come to you now, or we can get the classroom set up for a customized class for a group of people,” Koutroumpis said.
The CPR Challenge will be held Friday, November 19th in and around Carmichael Complex. Three sessions are available, and each session lasts four hours.
“It is throughout the day, beginning with session one [which] is from 9 [a.m.] to 1 [p.m.]. Session two is from 1 [p.m.] to 5 [p.m.]. Session three is 6 [p.m.] to 10 [p.m.],” Koutroumpis said.
Registration is open from now until the last session starts.
“You can register online at the campus rec website or you can go into the campus rec office at Carmichael gym and register at the front desk,” Powell said.
“You can actually walk up on the day and sign up for the class,” Powell said.
”We’re still open to as many people [that] want to take it,” Powell said.
CPR certification is $25 for faculty, staff, and students. AED training and first aid certification are also available.
“If you want to do an additional certification, like first aid, that is an additional $10,” Koutroumpis said.
“This [fee] more or less covers the cost of materials. You, as a participant, would get an information booklet and skills cards, as well as you first aid student pack, which includes a face shield and some first aid supplies that you use in class and take home,” Koutroumpis said.
