‘It’s super important’: High school students are now required to learn CPR in Florida

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — Students in Florida are learning life saving skills.

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Seminole High School students like Antonio Simpson are learning how to perform CPR with the help from the county fire department.

“I think everyone needs to learn how to do it,” Simpson said.

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Under Florida law, it is now required for students in the ninth and 11th grades.

“It’s super important that kids these age know,” said Eric Steiner with the Seminole County Fire Department.

According to the Senate version of the bill, “sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death on school campuses and of student athletes.”

Lt. Anthony Bowman said it can happen to anyone at any time.

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“Being able to get somebody to respond quickly and be able to be on scene fast and be able to administer proper compressions to be able to help us out as first responders. It’s amazing,” he said.

Simpson said the training will be beneficial.

“If you know this and you help them you might have just saved a life,” Simpson said.

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Seminole High School was the first school firefighters visited to teach the students CPR.

The fire department plans to visit the rest of the schools in the county.

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