Warren Area High School senior Kharma Wilkins performs chest compressions on an electronic manikin Thursday during state-mandated hands-only CPR training. Photo by Brian Ferry

WARREN, Pa. — Most parts of a student’s daily curriculum aren’t matters of life and death.

On Thursday, more than 100 Warren Area High School seniors went through a hands-only CPR program.

Groups of students were called to the auditorium where they watched videos about hands-only CPR and the use of an automated external defibrillator. After that, they took turns going onto the stage to practice.

Each student went to one of four stations, with electronic manikins, a practice AED device, and a certified CPR trainer.

After a quick demonstration of compressions that would turn the manikins’ lights green, the students went to work.

They had to perform 100 compressions — about a minute’s worth of work — without letting the light go to red. The manikins tracked the pace and depth of the compressions. Too slow, too fast, or too shallow, and the light changed.

“It was a little hard at first,” Kharma Wilkins said.

She was accustomed to the compressions, having taken a CPR course during her freshman year.

After that, each student pushed the start button on the AED, listened to the instructions, and, when the device said it was time, delivered a shock to their patients.

The AED devices were trainers — no real shocks were delivered.

More students are seeking out CPR training. In addition to the very public life-saving efforts performed on NFL player Damar Hamlin during a Monday Night Football game this season, one of the ways to satisfy the state’s new graduation pathways includes obtaining a national industry certification.

“It’s good for them to know,” Morrison said.

Beyond that, the training is mandated by the state.

“We’ve been doing this for three years,” lead instructor Amy Morrison said. “All seniors are supposed to be able to demonstrate hands-only CPR.”

Over time, the process has grown smoother. Morrison and Tiffany Lester were the only certified trainers at Warren Area High School for the first year. “The school board has pushed to get a lot more instructors,” Morrison said.

All seniors — even those who do not attend the district’s brick-and-mortar schools — have to either go through the training or show that they are already certified. A number of students who attend the district’s Virtual Academy were among those taking the course on Thursday.

“It’s a good use of my time,” Wilkins said. “You can use it at any point in your life. You never know when it will come up.”