Miss Sanpete leads CPR training initiative
GUNNISON—For $10 apiece, 23 Sanpete County residents walked out of the Gunnison EMS Building with something that could save a life: a CPR certification from the American Heart Association.
The events, held on Feb. 4 and Feb. 18, were the brainchild of Ava Jensen, the reigning Miss Sanpete County, who partnered with Gunnison Valley Hospital to offer same-day certifications at a fraction of the usual $50 cost.
The certifications, emailed directly to attendees from the American Heart Association, are valid for one year.
Jensen, who took EMT classes in high school and holds a CNA license, said she had already decided she wanted to organize a CPR course before getting involved in the Miss Sanpete competition. Her goal was to help people get legally certified, not just learn the basics.
“I’m a firm believer that CPR is a lifesaving skill that everybody should know,” Jensen said. “You never know what’s going to happen. Having people around who feel calm and confident in what they’re doing makes all the difference.”
Jensen pointed to the statistics: For people who experience cardiac arrest, CPR increases their chances of survival by two to three times. She also cited research showing that seven out of 10 people freeze and go blank during an emergency.
“It has to do with confidence,” she said. “If you happen to be in an emergency, you want to feel prepared.”
That preparation proved itself in Jensen’s own life. At a country swing event over the summer, a girl fell and began seizing. Jensen and a friend, both trained as EMTs, stepped in immediately to help until paramedics arrived.
“She thanked our friend group after,” Jensen said. “It’s helpful for people in an emergency to know that the people helping them actually care and are educated.”
The CPR events in Gunnison drew a wide range of ages. Six people attended the first class on Feb. 4, and 17 signed up for the second on Feb. 18. Jensen said she was surprised to see younger kids alongside senior citizens. One father brought his two daughters because he required them to be CPR certified before they could start babysitting.
The partnership with Gunnison Valley Hospital came together through Jensen’s pageant director, Kristen Bore, who had a connection at the hospital. Jensen then worked with Liz Brown and Kayla Hall at GVHS to develop the events. Hall secured grants that brought the certification cost down from $50 to $10 per person. Jensen promoted the events through table talks and recorded advertisements.
Jensen, who has competed in pageants since childhood, said the pageant experience had given her far more than a crown. She took runner-up in the Miss Sanpete County competition at 16 and again the following year before winning the title this year. She plans to pursue a career in nursing.
“It’s been amazing,” she said. “Pageants have given me interview skills, day-to-day skills and interpersonal skills. I’ve always loved the Miss Sanpete program and the girls in it.”
Anyone interested in CPR certification or heart health resources can reach out to Jensen and her director, Kristen Bore, through the Miss Sanpete County Instagram or Facebook pages. Additional information can be found at americanheartassociation.com.