CPR Certification | JENNIFER & JOEL GRIFFIN

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CPR Certification JENNIFER JOEL GRIFFIN
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On June 8, 2012, Gwyneth Griffin, a 7th grader at
A. G. Wright Middle School, collapsed in cardiac
arrest. Several critical minutes passed before
her father, Joel, reached her. CPR had not been
initiated. There was no one else taking care
of my daughter, so I had to, said Joel.
Gwyneths mother, Jennifer, stated It was after
the results of the MRI, 3 weeks later, that we
decided no one should ever have to go through
what we were going through. What became evident
was the need for CPR training in schools." While
the couple immersed themselves in caring for
Gwyneth at the hospital, friends and family were
busy back home in Stafford learning CPR. Joel and
Jennifers daughter, Gwyneth, passed away Monday,
July 30, 2012, not from her cardiac arrest, but
because CPR was not initiated within the first
few minutes. Their home community mobilized, and
at least 500 people have become certified in CPR
since.
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Jennifer and Joel involved themselves in working
with the American Heart Association and their
legislators to establish legislation that would
assure every student was trained in CPR before
graduation. Through their efforts and
perseverance, and in honor of their daughter,
Gwyneths Law was passed in Virginia in the 2013
General Assembly session. The law has three
components teacher training in CPR, AED
availability in schools, and CPR training as a
graduation requirement. Joel and Jennifer
Griffin's tragic loss of their 13 year old
daughter, Gwyneth, prompted them to make changes
in the current laws. Aided by the American Heart
Association, Gwyneth's Law was signed into law in
Virginia in May 2013. This law requires all
teachers and students, by the time they graduate,
to receive CPR training.
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Since passage of the Virginia law, the Griffins
have continued to work to help other states
accomplish the same goal. They visited Maryland
legislators during the 2014 General Assembly
session, and were instrumental in getting a
similar law passed there. Now they are
actively working to make it happen in DC schools,
including a series of legislator visits, a
television interview, and providing testimony
before committees. They hope their story will
help inspire others to support CPR training in
schools as well.
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The legacy that Gwyneth leaves behind is one that
will save countless lives. Help honor her legacy.
This quick video will help you become CPR smart
(and might get you dancing too). Learn more
about CPR Certification. Bergenfield, NJ, Jersey
City, NJ, Livingston, NJ, Queens, NY?. Source
yourethecure.org