There’s one more graduation requirement students might not have realized they needed – CPR training.

In the last few weeks, sophomores and juniors underwent the required training through their history classes. The requirement stems from HB5, a bill that was passed by the Texas Legislature in June 2013, which requires all students, seventh through 12^th grade, must be provided with CPR training in order to graduate.

The change became effective beginning with the 2014-15 school year. Training only has to be administered once before graduation and should the school wish to, can be intended to result in certification.

“I think it’s a very good skill to have in order to graduate,” junior Christyna Reeves said. “That way later in life, something could happen and wouldn’t you want someone to help you in that situation?”

The students were taught hands only, basic compression training in group sessions during their history classes. According to the American Heart Association, every hour in the U.S. about 48 people have a cardiac arrest event outside of a hospital. Nine out of 10 people will not survive. However, CPR can double or triple a victim’s chance of surviving.

“I think that it’s a little hard to enforce, but at the same time I think that it’s a good idea to make everyone CPR trained,” World History teacher Rosie Palazzolo said.