Carpentersville mayor wants schools to teach first aid

Teaching children lifesaving techniques should not be limited to one month a year, Carpentersville Village President Bill Sarto says.

Instead, Sarto wants to introduce a program, in conjunction with the Save a Life Foundation and area schools districts, to teach students skills such as CPR, the Heimlich Maneuver and defibrillator operations beyond the month of September.

"After a couple of years of proclaiming September Save a Life month, I thought it would be a good idea to make it more than one month a year," Sarto said. "It is a benefit to the community to try to get lifesaving techniques out into the public, and the best way to do that is through the school districts."

The Save a Life Foundation, based in Schiller Park, is dedicated to training schoolchildren -- at no cost -- the basics of first aid skills to help prepare for and respond to medical emergencies.

Since 1993, governors and mayors across the country have proclaimed September Save a Life Month, to encourage citizens to be trained in life-supporting first aid skills and take an active role if faced with an emergency.

Though details are not yet finalized, village officials said the program could train Carpentersville fire officers to teach children certain lifesaving techniques.

"I am excited for the prospects of a program like this for the community," Carpentersville Fire Chief John Schuldt said. "If we can instruct one child to perform one life-saving procedure, whether it is the Heimlich, how to control blood loss or regulate breathing, that would make the program successful."

So far, Community Unit School District 300 -- which has about 3,800 students at five schools in the village -- has shown interest in participating.

Superintendent Ken Arndt said although school principals and village officials are still discussing particulars, the program would provide a benefit to the community.

"We are going to try it as the pilot program," Arndt said. "Anytime we can help students know basic life-saving techniques is a good thing for everyone."