In this edition of the TMCC Good News, TMCC’s Marketing and Communications and Web Services team receive awards; and the CPR program has shown remarkable growth.
TMCC’s Marketing and Web Services Teams Win Awards
Recently, TMCC’s Marketing and Communications team won five regional awards from the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR). The regional awards, called Medallion Awards, are determined by a panel of judges who review submissions from District 6, which includes community colleges in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Territory of Guam.
“Our Marketing and Web Services teams have made significant gains this year in strategy for the website, photography, branding and also in social media,” said Associate Vice President Elena Bubnova. “I am proud of the hard work and dedication of this division. The awards are evidence of the expertise and creativity of the Marketing and Communications and Web Services teams.”
Under the direction of Associate Vice President Bubnova, the MCO team includes Director Kate Kirkpatrick, Brandie Davis, Rebecca Eckland, Tim Ill, Leone Thierman, Candice Vialpando and student graphic designer Katelyn Brooke. The Web Services team includes Cal Anderson, Jennifer Hock, Conrad Wong and student worker Joaquin Valverde Navia.
Bubnova, along with MCO Director Kirkpatrick and Institutional Research Director Cheryl Scott were invited to present at the NCMPR Regional Conference in Park City, Utah in September, where they accepted the awards.
The division received Gold Awards for TMCC’s Viewbook and 2018’s FAFSA Challenge Campaign. Further, the Fundraising Campaign “If You Love a Pet, Support Vet Tech” received a Silver Award. The newly redesigned TMCC website was awarded Bronze as was written coverage of Operation Battleborn Ruck March which was noted for its “Excellence in Writing.”
“Hearty congratulations to the TMCC Marketing team,” said President Dr. Karin Hilgersom. “Their tireless efforts to promote the College bring about enrollment gains. If you happen to see one of these fine TMCC folks in our hallways, let’s offer kudos for their efforts and recognition of their work.”
TMCC CPR Program Saves Lives through Skills
Every Friday and Saturday, TMCC’s CPR Program offers classes at both the Dandini Campus and the William N. Pennington Health Science Center. TMCC student Cody Spears has taken the Basic Life Support class twice to maintain his First Responder Certification, a requirement of his degree and professional path: he’s currently an Advanced EMT student with the end goal of becoming a Firefighter-Paramedic. “Every time I’ve taken the class, I’ve enjoyed it,” he said. “It’s always a smaller class, so if I need help, I don’t feel bad asking the instructor. These classes have really helped me to get hands-on practice for what I want to be doing professionally.”
TMCC’s CPR Program has been helping students like Spears for over 20 years by offering beginning and advanced CPR certification and training courses. Under the direction of Program Coordinator Christina Luera, the program has shown remarkable growth over the past three years, reaching an average of a thousand students each year. “So many of the programs at TMCC require CPR training as a prerequisite,” said Luera. “But there is also value in learning CPR even as a bystander—it changes victim survival outcomes because you can help someone before medical personnel arrive.” Those vital seconds or minutes of performing chest compressions could save a person’s life.
Remember, 70% of sudden cardiac arrests occur at home or other similar private settings. Of those who suffer from sudden cardiac arrest, 90% die prior to reaching the hospital. Providing CPR in the initial minutes after a victim shows no signs of breathing or pulse can help to circulate blood that contains oxygen to the victim’s brain and other vital organs. In fact, effective CPR provided by a bystander in the first few minutes of cardiac arrest can increase the chances of the victim’s survival by two or three times.
TMCC’s CPR Program has a wide range of course offerings, everything from skills-based courses that do not end in certification to courses targeted at healthcare professionals. With around 20 classes offered each month, those interested in taking a course basically are guaranteed a spot.
“Depends on what you’re looking for—we can do basic training for bystanders, or we can even do training for companies who want their employees to have First Responder skills even if it isn’t necessarily a part of their job descriptions,” said Luera. The program is also reaching other populations: boy scout troops, professional workplaces in every industry and even communities for older adults. Last year, TMCC’s CPR Program visited Sierra Canyon Association, a 55+ community where 20 residents attended a Hands-only CPR and AED training, which also included instruction on how to help someone who is choking.
Through a new partnership with Spanish Springs Elementary School, each year fifth-grade students receive basic CPR training, so they progress to middle school knowing how to respond in an emergency situation. To date, the program has reached 150 fifth grade students, and Luera is looking to expand this program to more schools in our community.
“We also participate in the Student Success Fair every fall. This allows TMCC students as well as faculty to get to know more about the program and training we offer,” said Luera. “Typically we average about 60-80 students who stop by and enter our raffle or a chance to win a free CPR workshop.” The program has also partnered with TMCC’s Professional Development Office, offering the “Friends and Family CPR” to TMCC faculty and staff three times each year at no cost. This program usually trains 30 TMCC faculty and staff each year.
If you haven’t taken a CPR class in a while, TMCC’s program offers advanced feedback devices such as mannequins with lights that change color depending on whether the student is doing chest compressions at the correct cadence. This kind of technology enables you to receive immediate feedback in addition to any corrections made by the instructor. The Basic Life Support and First Aid trainings are also offered in Spanish.
Luera’s goal? To grow the program so that it can provide students, staff and community members with the training they need to save a life. “I want to make sure the program offers what the students need and that the training is frequent, fun and engaging,” she said. “It’s a very rewarding program, because students come back, again and again, to renew their certification.”
CPR classes aren’t just for medical professionals; Luera mentions that having a CPR certification is a great detail to include on a resume. “Having that knowledge of what to do in an emergency situation is important for everyone, no matter their major or job,” she said.
The cost varies depending on the type of class; please contact the CPR and First Aid Program at 775-336-4270 for more information.