Two years ago, former physics professor Dale Sayers suffered a heart attack at Carmichael Gymnasium. He was given CPR at the scene, but later died in the hospital from a lack of oxygen.
His daughter, Mary McLaurin, said she was grateful for the extra time that his family had to spend with him due to the CPR.
“Every minute really counts,” McLaurin said. “I want people to know how important it is to know CPR.”Bobby Blair, a graduate student in parks, recreation and tourism management is in charge of the Campus CPR Challenge to be held Friday and Saturday at Carmichael Gymnasium.The CPR Challenge is offered to all faculty, staff and students at the University.Certification typically requires a $45 fee, but for the Challenge the fee is only $20 for people who pre-register by Thursday and $30 on the day of the event.Blair said the classes are at 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. on both days.According to Blair, 55 people have pre-registered and he expects more to register as the date nears. “Anyone could choke at anytime. If at Thanksgiving, your grandfather started choking, then you could save his life while you were waiting for the paramedics to arrive,” he said, also noting the Heimlich maneuver, which will also be taught during the course. “The worst feeling is when you can’t do anything,” Blair said.Josh Bumgarner, a freshman in political science, said he plans on taking advantage of the challenge. “I want to possibly work at a camp this summer,” he said. “This will definitely look good on my application.”The CPR Challenge includes Adult CPR/AED Certification, but according to Blair, the Red Cross will offer child/infant certification for the same price, as well as first aid.During the summer, Frank Ormond, a former associate professor for the physical education department, received CPR after collapsing in Carmichael Gymnasium during a workout.
He later died as well, but Blair indicated the CPR Challenge aims to make tragedies like these into something “more positive.”
Carmichael Gymnasium currently has three AED machines on hand. The class will use the exact replica of those machines as well as videos and mannequins.McLaurin said she will be speaking about her father during the first session of the Challenge.
The Red Cross is adopting new policies related to administrating CPR this year, which is a reason Blair said it is a good year to start the program.
He stated that he didn’t mean for it to coincide with the anniversary of Sayer’s death, but it does make the event seem more important.
“Most people would need to be re-certified by the end of the year anyway,” Blair said. “This is just offering them a more convenient opportunity.”
He added he would like to see the challenge grow in the future.
“I would like this to turn into an annual event,” Blair said. “Maybe we could even have it become a competition between UNC-Chapel Hill, East Carolina — all the surrounding universities really — to see who has the highest outcome.”