​Students enrolled in the Floyd County Schools College and Career Academy learned some lifesaving skills on May 18 at Floyd Emergency Medical Service (EMS) headquarters.

Nearly 30 students hoping to eventually become early childhood educators tackled issues such as CPR, how to shock the heart with an AED (automated external defibrillator) and how to give first aid.

Floyd Corporate Health provided the instructors for the American Heart Association certified class,: Jeni Carson, a registered nurse, and Amy Harkins and Jessica Bohannon, Corporate Health Specialists.

Floyd Corporate Health administers the school nurse program in Rome City Schools, Floyd County Schools and Polk County Schools, and also works with dozens of business and industrial clients in the region to help create healthier employees.

Alison Burkhalter, a teacher at the academy, accompanied her students, and also spent the day as a learner. She said early childhood students are required to learn lifesaving skills.

“I just think it makes so much sense," Burkhalter said. “I have been teaching for 24 years, and I have seen students have seizures and gotten cut and things like that. So it is beneficial not just in a work scenario, but also at home."

She and her students received their certification as a result of taking the all-day class.

“I have done that before, but it has been years," Burkhalter said. “This is such a great thing and I think my students saw that."