Students at Gaston Middle school receive generous donation to learn CPR

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Monday's lesson was hands-on at Gaston Middle school in Fresno. Seventy-five kids took to the ground with donated CPR dummies to learn how to keep a heart beating.

"It's a new experience and it feels good."

In about 40 minutes, the students learned the basics of CPR, starting with proper hand placement for chest compressions. Santiago Macias showed us how it is done.

"You put your two hands like this, you push right there," said Macias.

The Proper technique calls for straight arms and shoulders--as well as, two-inch compressions, between 100 and 120 beats per minute.

"It was difficult but at the end, it became more easier."

The knowledge came courtesy of the American Heart Association and a generous donation from the Educational Employees Credit Union.

EECU gave the school 10 lifesaving kits, filled with 70 CPR mannequins, AED trainers, instructional DVDs, and lesson plans teachers will be able to use in the future to train even more students.

"They are fearless and they are willing to try something new and we've seen them implement it into the community."

According to the American Heart Association, 70 percent of cardiac arrests happen at home -- making it highly likely any one of these kids could hold on to what they learned here and become a hero.

"Maybe I can use this to save someone's life."