PIERCETON — When you’re learning to do the hands-only CPR technique, “Row Row Row Your Boat” is the song to have stuck in your head.

Pierceton’s EMS Captain Alicia Elder joined the 4th grade students in Michelle Ball’s 4th grade classroom on Wednesday, Dec. 7, to help each child receive their credentials for CPR.  Elder also serves on the Pierceton Chamber of Commerce.

Throughout the session, students practiced meeting a target goal of 100 compressions in one minutes time using a mannequin. Many discovered they were going too fast, while others were not pushing hard enough on the CPR mannequin’s chest, but some students technique was impressive with ranges from 102 – 104 compressions in one minutes time.

By the end of the class, each student had learned how to properly give the hands-only CPR technique. New standards in CPR have removed helping the victim by assisting with breathing. Instead, with hands-only, individuals are required to do roughly 100 chest compressions per minute in order to oxygenate the victim’s body until emergency personnel arrive.

“My students were surprised at the hard work of CPR!” said Ball. “I was so happy to see how serious they took completing the task.

Elder visited three classrooms at PES. Friday she will visit the 4th grade classes at South Whitley Elementary to assist in their training. Elder teaches approximately 500-600 Whitko students annually in 4th and 6th grades, and also at Whitko High School.