Fall sports can be a matter of life or death with youth coaches
Moorestown Township parks and recreation department is putting safety first this fall by offering Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation courses — better known as CPR — to township residents, specifically the ones that coach youth sports.
The courses, certified by the American Heart Association, are intended for area coaches and residents ages 16 and up.
Moorestown parks and recreation director Theresa Miller sent information to school athletic directors and township sports program coaches and posted information on the township’s Web site to help advertise the program.
Recreation league coaches are encouraged to take the course, but not required. The parks and recreation department offers soccer, field hockey, basketball and lacrosse leagues for residents.
Moorestown has offered the course for about two years, and more courses will be offered again in the winter.
In October, course participants will learn CPR methods for victims of all ages in a small six-person class focused on hands-on learning.
“I feel that learning CPR is very important for anyone who comes in contact with young children and teenagers,” she said.
According to course instructor Marie Stavros, a registered nurse, the course runs about three to four hours, during which participants learn basic CPR techniques for adults, infants and children. Students are told how to handle an emergency situation and how to begin administering the compression and breathing steps of CPR. Methods of stroke prevention and medical conditions that may require CPR are also discussed during the course.
Stavros, a Moorestown resident, works full time as a visiting home-care nurse and teaches education programs regularly for the Visiting Nurse Associations of America. She has been teaching CPR for 21 years.
Throughout the course, students get one-on-one practice time with a CPR mannequin for all three age levels.
Her general advice for youth coaches when working with players is to be aware and make safety their first priority.
Stavros said performing CPR prior to an emergency medical technician’s arrival could make a big difference in someone’s chances of survival.
“It is important to learn CPR skills so that you are ready in case of emergency and not helpless. Being prepared in the first few moments really makes a difference,” she said. Moorestown resident Keith Omlor signed up for the course.
Omlor is a member of the parks and recreation advisory committee and is a former 13-year soccer coach for the township soccer program.
“I think it’s a great opportunity that our town is providing. It’s a great resource for very little money,” he said.
The former lifeguard thought it couldn’t hurt to brush up on his CPR skills, since he has a pool at his home and currently plays on and coaches a men’s soccer team.
“To me, I think it’s one of those skill sets that everyone should have. Whether you are coaching a sport or not, it is an important skill to learn. Even if you learned it 15 to 20 years ago, like I did, you should renew it and keep on top of new techniques,” he said.
The courses, certified by the American Heart Association, are intended for area coaches and residents ages 16 and up.
Moorestown parks and recreation director Theresa Miller sent information to school athletic directors and township sports program coaches and posted information on the township’s Web site to help advertise the program.
Recreation league coaches are encouraged to take the course, but not required. The parks and recreation department offers soccer, field hockey, basketball and lacrosse leagues for residents.
Moorestown has offered the course for about two years, and more courses will be offered again in the winter.
In October, course participants will learn CPR methods for victims of all ages in a small six-person class focused on hands-on learning.
“I feel that learning CPR is very important for anyone who comes in contact with young children and teenagers,” she said.
According to course instructor Marie Stavros, a registered nurse, the course runs about three to four hours, during which participants learn basic CPR techniques for adults, infants and children. Students are told how to handle an emergency situation and how to begin administering the compression and breathing steps of CPR. Methods of stroke prevention and medical conditions that may require CPR are also discussed during the course.
Stavros, a Moorestown resident, works full time as a visiting home-care nurse and teaches education programs regularly for the Visiting Nurse Associations of America. She has been teaching CPR for 21 years.
Throughout the course, students get one-on-one practice time with a CPR mannequin for all three age levels.
Her general advice for youth coaches when working with players is to be aware and make safety their first priority.
Stavros said performing CPR prior to an emergency medical technician’s arrival could make a big difference in someone’s chances of survival.
“It is important to learn CPR skills so that you are ready in case of emergency and not helpless. Being prepared in the first few moments really makes a difference,” she said. Moorestown resident Keith Omlor signed up for the course.
Omlor is a member of the parks and recreation advisory committee and is a former 13-year soccer coach for the township soccer program.
“I think it’s a great opportunity that our town is providing. It’s a great resource for very little money,” he said.
The former lifeguard thought it couldn’t hurt to brush up on his CPR skills, since he has a pool at his home and currently plays on and coaches a men’s soccer team.
“To me, I think it’s one of those skill sets that everyone should have. Whether you are coaching a sport or not, it is an important skill to learn. Even if you learned it 15 to 20 years ago, like I did, you should renew it and keep on top of new techniques,” he said.
