Duke's School of Medicine attempts to set world record in CPR training

DURHAM, N.C. -- On Wednesday, Feb. 26, Duke University partnered with schools and organizations across the state to reach an ambitious goal of breaking a world record.

They aimed to train 30,000 people in Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on a single day.

North Carolina came up just short, but organizers say the initiative was still a major success.

The goal was to surpass 30,000 CPR trainings. While the state did not reach that mark, more than 19,000 people were successfully trained in the life-saving techniques.

According to Guinness World Records, the current title is held by Saveetha University in Chennai, India, set in 2016.

In Buncombe County, sessions were held at three schools in Asheville:

Asheville High School Isaac Dickson Elementary School William Randolph Campus

Together, the schools instructed more than 500 students. Each participant completed 100 chest compressions in one minute.

Experts at Duke University say cardiac arrest remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Immediate CPR can significantly increase a person's chances of survival, especially when performed before first responders arrive.

Asheville City Schools emphasized that teaching students CPR not only equips young people with critical emergency skills but also strengthens the community as a whole.

"So, with western North Carolina recovering from Helene, building that resiliency and building the capacity of our younger population to be engaged in making western North Carolina into a safer, more productive place," Rigsby said.

In addition to school-based training, public sessions were held at Pack Square Park, allowing community members the opportunity to learn CPR.

The event was also held in recognition of American Heart Month this February, highlighting the importance of heart health and emergency preparedness.

In North Carolina, students are required to learn CPR before graduating high school, a policy aimed at ensuring more residents are prepared to respond in life-threatening situations.

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