Jack & Jill Center summer campers learn lifesaving CPR skills through hands-on training led by healthcare professionals

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Summer vacation may offer a break from the classroom, but for a group of children at Jack & Jill Center, learning continued with a lesson that could one day help save a life.

Campers recently participated in hands-on CPR training after receiving CPR Anytime Training Kits donated by Rick Case Automotive Group President and CEO Rita Case. The educational event focused on teaching young people the basics of cardiopulmonary resuscitation while helping them build confidence in responding during medical emergencies.

The training was designed to show that lifesaving skills are not reserved for adults or healthcare professionals. Instead, organizers emphasized that anyone can learn the fundamentals of CPR and be prepared to act when every second counts.

“I embrace every opportunity I have to teach children important skills they can apply now and take with them as they progress into adulthood,” said Case. “I cannot emphasize enough the importance of feeling confident performing CPR because you never know when you might need to perform this lifesaving technique. I have made it my mission to equip as many people in our community as possible with the ability to be a hero and save a life. We are turning bystanders into lifesavers.”

The CPR instruction was led by medical professionals from Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, with additional support from the American Heart Association. Together, the teams guided campers through the essential techniques of Hands-Only CPR and introduced them to the role of automated external defibrillators, commonly known as AEDs, in responding to cardiac emergencies.

Read also: Governor Ron DeSantis announces historic student achievement in Florida end-of-year progress monitoring results

Rather than simply watching demonstrations, the children were able to practice the techniques using specially designed training equipment, giving them an opportunity to build familiarity with CPR in a supportive environment.

The event also highlighted the importance of extending lifesaving knowledge beyond the classroom. At the conclusion of the training, every camper received a CPR Anytime Training Kit to take home so family members could learn alongside them.

Each kit includes a Mini Anne® CPR learning manikin, a foam-board AED training simulator and digital instruction available in both English and Spanish. Organizers hope the kits will encourage families to continue practicing together, expanding the number of people who are prepared to respond during an emergency.

The campers also expressed their appreciation by presenting Rita Case with handmade thank-you notes, adding a personal touch to an educational experience that combined learning with community involvement.

The initiative is part of the American Heart Association’s Nation of Lifesavers™ campaign, which seeks to increase the number of people trained in Hands-Only CPR and encourage bystanders to take immediate action when someone experiences cardiac arrest.

Read also: Florida Attorney General announces arrest of drug trafficker previously released under federal autopen commutation

In South Florida, the effort has received a significant boost through donations from Rick Case Automotive Group. Those contributions have allowed the American Heart Association’s Greater Miami/Fort Lauderdale region to distribute CPR Anytime Training Kits to nonprofit organizations, schools, hospitals and local governments across Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

Health experts continue to stress that widespread CPR education can make a meaningful difference in survival rates.

According to the American Heart Association, approximately 350,000 cardiac arrests occur outside hospitals each year. Survival often depends on a rapid response, beginning with a call to 911, followed immediately by high-quality CPR and the use of an AED as soon as one becomes available.

For children and infants, the need for CPR awareness is especially significant.

The American Heart Association reports that more than 23,000 children experience cardiac arrest outside the hospital annually. About 40 percent of those incidents are connected to sports activities, while nearly one in five involves infants.

Local statistics also underscore the importance of community education. Broward County has experienced increasing infant mortality rates and currently records the highest numbers in Florida. Cardiac arrest is responsible for an estimated 10 to 15 percent of sudden unexpected infant deaths, making CPR training an especially valuable skill for parents, caregivers and community members.

Organizers say programs like the one held at Jack & Jill Center are intended to help address those realities by introducing lifesaving education at an early age. By teaching children practical emergency response skills and providing take-home resources for their families, the initiative seeks to build confidence while creating more prepared communities.

Although the campers spent part of their summer learning a serious subject, the lesson carried a hopeful message. With proper training and the willingness to act, ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference during a medical emergency.

For the children who participated, the day offered more than a new activity at summer camp. It provided knowledge they can carry with them for years to come—and perhaps one day use when someone needs help the most.