Sharon Elementary Schools participate in “CPR Roar,” a collaborative life-saving skills workshop!
Students across the Sharon City School District gained lifesaving skills through CPR Roar – Tigers Saving Lives, a collaborative initiative designed to teach elementary students how to respond to emergencies and promote heart-healthy practices. The program took place March 18th at Case Avenue Elementary School, C.M. Musser Elementary School, and West Hill Elementary School.
Organized by Sharon City School District and Buhl Regional Health Foundation in partnership with local healthcare and emergency providers, the event delivered hands-on education to 942 students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Students in grades 4–6 received small group instruction in hands-only CPR, while younger students learned age-appropriate emergency response skills. Mascots from Sharon schools and Sparky, the Sharon Fire Department mascot, served as simulated patients for the demonstration, but students were also given the opportunity to practice the skills they learned on training manikins provided from various training facilities in the area. AED trainers were also utilized to familiarize the students with the purpose and use of these lifesaving devices.
The Sharon Herald’s March 19th article shared one student’s thoughts on the event. “I learned you could save a life out of nowhere. It could happen anywhere,” Corinne Fiscus, a sixth-grader at Case Avenue Elementary said. “I feel like it’s a good activity for us to know.”
The event was a collaboration between Sharon City School District, AHN Grove City, UPMC Horizon and UPMC Jameson, Elite EMS, McGonigle Ambulance, Sharon Regional Health System, Sharon Fire Department and Staying Alive.
The program grew from a real-life event that highlighted the importance of CPR education. Dave Tomko, a teacher at Case Avenue Elementary and coach of the Tiger Techs Robotics Team, recounted performing CPR during a medical emergency the team witnessed. “That experience opened all of our eyes to how critical CPR knowledge is,” Tomko said. “After my students became certified themselves, we realized we could bring these lifesaving skills to a much larger group throughout the district.”
School nurse Megan Metro emphasized the value of collaboration. “When students learn directly from professionals who respond to emergencies every day, it reinforces the importance of the training,” Metro said. “When children bring these conversations home, it creates a ripple effect that strengthens community preparedness.”
Emergency responders also note the impact of early education. Kayla Rhoads of McGonigle Ambulance said, “Learning CPR at a young age empowers students with skills they can carry for the rest of their lives. When every second matters, knowledge makes a difference.”
Healthcare partners highlighted how early intervention saves lives. Scott Gross, EMS Specialist for UPMC Horizon and UPMC Jameson explained, “Research shows that rapid access to 911 and early CPR greatly improves patient outcomes. Teaching these skills to young people makes the whole community safer.”
Joe Malinski, EMS Coordinator at Sharon Regional Health System, added, “It is an honor to work together to give children the knowledge needed to help save a life.”
Buhl Regional Health Foundation (BRHF) played a central role in coordinating the program. Kateri Linn, Director of Programming, said, “This initiative reflects what’s possible when schools, healthcare systems, and emergency responders unite around community wellbeing. By equipping students with practical skills and confidence, we are investing in a safer and more prepared future for our region.”
The program also complements BRHF’s AED+ initiative, which provides nonprofit organizations with free automated external defibrillators (AEDs), CPR certification, and lifesaving education. “Expanding CPR education to students through CPR Roar is another way the Foundation is helping build a culture of preparedness and ensuring more individuals are equipped to respond in an emergency,” Linn added.
Organizers hope CPR Roar – Tigers Saving Lives will continue to provide students with hands-on education in the future, giving them repeated opportunities to build confidence and skills as they grow. Through hands-on education and community collaboration, Sharon students are learning that even at a young age, they have the power to save lives.
