A lesson in how to help others: Moscow Police Department provides McDonald Elementary fifth-grade students first aid training

“One one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand,” counted Moscow Police Sgt. Bruce Lovell as a fifth-grader practiced chest compressions on a infant mannequin Tuesday morning at McDonald Elementary School. The practice was part of the Moscow Police Department’s daylong first aid training session with elementary school students.

Children were split into three groups and asked to simulate what they would do if there was a medical emergency. Some were sent to grab an automated external defibrillator, or a CPR mask, while others were asked to pretend to call 911.

MPD Sgt. Art Lindquist said the purpose of Tuesday’s training was to get students familiar with the medical equipment – like the AED – so that if a situation ever arose where the device was needed, the students would know where to find it and how to use it properly.

“It can be a little intimidating if you have never used (an AED) or seen one – but that is why we are here,” Lindquist said.

While the students did not get first aid certified Tuesday, the class did serve as a “pilot program,” Lovell said.

If Tuesday’s class went well, Lovell said he and Lindquist hope to attend all of the Moscow School District’s fifth-grade classes and provide first aid trainings starting next school year.

“Every kid who has been in Moscow since the fifth grade could know CPR – that is pretty cool,” Lovell said.

Some of the other lessons the officers taught Tuesday included how to properly do the Heimlich – on both adults and infants – and how to properly apply a tourniquet.

After lunch, Lindquist said officers taught the fifth graders about EpiPens, asthma and even how to treat a jellyfish sting.

Lovell said several months ago the MPD offered a first aid course to all of the officers and their families. He said it was at that course he got the idea to start teaching it to all the district’s fifth graders.

Lovell said his own 11-year-old son, Everett, attended the MPD class and spent the next several hours after the class ended talking about what he had learned.

Lovell said while not all of the fifth graders will use or remember the information they learned Tuesday, he does hope that they learned to be more assertive with their voices, especially if someone’s life hangs in the balance.

“It’s about empowering them to help other kids,” Lovell said.

Katie Short can be reached at (208) 883-4633, or by email to kshort@dnews.com.