BHS Students Saves Grandma’s Life
After finding his grandma unconscious, Kayden Anderson administered CPR until the emergency squad arrived. “Kayden is my superstar! He is an incredible young man,” exclaimed Michelle Holt, Kayden’s grandma.
Michelle Holt has suffered from various heart issues and struggled with her health for several years. Holt lost consciousness, and Kayden was there. Kayden took charge and told the home health aide to call 911, and he started CPR. Showing the aide how to administer the breaths, Kayden did the compressions, and she did the required breaths. When the emergency squad arrived, Kayden informed the EMTs about his grandma’s medical history. “The nurses and the doctors at the hospital were just amazed, because they know the struggle they even had,” said Holt. “He saved my life.”
According to American Heart Association News, “Starting CPR within the first 10 minutes of someone having a cardiac arrest at home or in public may greatly improve their chances for survival and protect their brain function.” The Ohio Revised Code mandated instruction in CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) for all high school students, beginning the 2017-2018 school year. In 2024, additions to the law required the instruction to include hands-on practice to support cognitive learning.
BHS physical education and health teacher, Nikki McEndree, includes CPR training in her health class. “CPR is an essential skill that all people should have,” stated McEndree. “You never know when someone might need help in an emergency.” Michelle Holt credits the training received in McEndree’s class with giving Kayden the knowledge and the skill set to save her life. “So I am forever thankful, not only to my incredible grandson, Kayden, but also to the high school for providing the training,” shared Holt.
Kayden’s advice to other students is “Pay Attention!” He continues to share that “it is a lot better if you hurt the person by doing compressions too hard than doing it too weak and not hurt them and they not be here.”
Barnesville School Nurse Beth Seneff said, “I’m so proud of Kayden’s quick thinking and the actions he took without hesitating. I think I see a future medical professional in the making.”
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