Parrish Healthcare - Equipping Northern Brevard Students to Save Lives with CPR

The American Heart Association—a global force for longer, healthier lives—is empowering local students to save lives by providing Hands-Only CPR training equipment to North Brevard schools. Each year, more than 350,000 people in the U.S. experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital. For adults and teens, CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.

Parrish Healthcare through its Jess Parrish Medical Foundation, invested $45,000 to ensure every middle and high school in its North Brevard service area has access to lifesaving CPR training equipment. Through this investment, six schools—Andrew Jackson Middle School, Astronaut High School, James Madison Middle School, Sculptor Charter School, Space Coast Junior/Senior High School and Titusville High School—each received an American Heart Association CPR in Schools® With First Aid Training Kit during a formal presentation.

“Parrish Healthcare’s support of our CPR in Schools initiative is vital to our determination to ensure that at least one person in every household across the nation is trained in Hands-Only CPR,” said Kelley Harrell, Development Director, American Heart Association, Brevard/Flagler/Volusia Counties. “Knowing how to respond in a cardiac emergency can be the difference between life and death, and we are excited to add the Titusville school community to the Nation of Lifesavers.”

The American Heart Association’s CPR in Schools Training Kit enables students to learn and practice lifesaving skills with a manikin in just one class period. The reusable kits can train thousands of people over time.

“Providing our students with the opportunity to learn CPR gives them skills that can make a real difference when it matters most,” said Dr. Mark Rendell, Superintendent of Brevard Public Schools. “We are grateful to the American Heart Association and Parrish Healthcare for investing in our students and helping prepare them to respond with confidence in an emergency.”

The reusable kits will give North Brevard students hands-on opportunities to build the skills and confidence to respond during a cardiac emergency, extending the benefit to thousands of students and families over time.

"We are extremely thankful to Parrish Healthcare for their support of CPR education in our schools. Their donation of six CPR in Schools Training Kits will help us provide students with hands-on CPR instruction and valuable lifesaving skills. Partnerships like this have a meaningful impact on our students, and we are truly grateful for Parrish Healthcare's commitment to supporting our schools and community," said Danielle O’Reilly, Brevard Public Schools, Content Specialist PE/Health K-12, Driver Ed, & JROTC.

“This investment reflects Parrish Healthcare’s commitment to building a healthier, safer North Brevard,” said George Mikitarian, president and CEO of Parrish Healthcare. “By ensuring every middle and high school in our service area has access to these CPR and first aid training kits, we are equipping students with lifesaving skills they can carry into their homes and throughout their lives.”

To learn more about CPR, visit cpr.heart.org.