With a new school year near, safety is a priority for the Bibb County School District.
The district is ensuring that their athletic coaches are CPR. certified, by giving training courses this week. The initiative is a part of the district's Emergency Action Plan. The plan is required by the Georgia High School Association.
David Gowan, Director of Risk Management for Bibb County Schools, says the class is offered every year for teachers. However, this is the first year that athletic coaches are required to take the course.
Gowan says the training is instrumental because all Bibb County high and middle schools have AEDs. AEDs are automated external defibrillators. "If someone is not breathing and you hook them up to the AED machine, it has pads that reads their heart rhythm. "
Gowan also explains that an AED will deliver a shock to the heart if the person's heart rhythm is abnormal or not beating at all.
CPR training will resume on Wednesday, and will continue for the rest of the week.