In two weeks, 47 employees of the Selma City School and Dallas County Schools gained CPR certification through the Have a Heart-Save a Heart classes offered by the American Heart Association.

Under Alabama law, only athletic coaches are required to have up-to-date CPR certification, a standard Glenda Shaw, director of A Plus Safety, wanted to change.

The ability to respond in the first few minutes to a victim is imperative to preventing brain damage.

After 10 minutes of a lack of oxygen, the brain can suffer irreversible damage, a time span that could be faster than the arrival of an ambulance.

Without certified employees in each school, this could mean devastation to the life of a child. Interest in the certification came from the cafeteria staff, the school secretary, nurse, teacher’s aides, teachers and custodians at Meadowview Elementary School.

The school had 18 employees attend, including principal Jeanne Brust, who thought it difficult to ask fellow staff to attend the class if she wasn’t willing to go.

Parents can now rest easier knowing that schools are more equipped to react to emergency situations.

And perhaps more employees will choose to also become certified. Remember, certification lasts at most two years, so do attend another class if your certification is close to expiration.