Coon Rapids DARE officer Bryan Platz led Sand Creek Elementary School fifth graders through the DARE decision-making model when faced with the question of being the help. Today, he's teaching a lesson on compression-only CPR. It's a life saving skill, which the students can use anytime, anywhere.
"You think of something like doing CPR as this really scary thing,” Platz said. “But we make it fun and the kids love it."
Students got into the music of the 70s with hands on experience to practice CPR. The students sang along to the song ‘Staying Alive’ to maintain a 100 beats per minute cadence. Coon Rapids Police Captain John Stahnke called officer Platz a superstar when it comes to working with students.
"DARE is our number one community outreach program,” Stahnke said. “It's so important for our DARE officers to get into the schools to establish these relationships with the fifth graders."
"The goal here, at this age, is to take the fear out of it,” Platz said. “To take the stigma out of it and to empower them to do something."
In addition to CPR training, Platz showed the class how to use an Automated External Defibrillator or AED. Sand Creek Principal Paul Anderson says his fifth graders have a greater appreciation for the police because of the DARE program.
"Bryan Platz is a great DARE officer," Anderson said. “He brings fun and engaging lessons to our fifth grade."
And if you know officer Bryan Platz, he never misses a chance to teach CPR to anyone, for a heart safe community, like Coon Rapids.
"If you haven't had a class, take one,” Platz said. “It is so important. If you want a good one, take mine. Plus, if you're a resident of Coon Rapids, my classes are free."