Austin, TX — September 2026
Lake Travis High School continued its focus on emergency preparedness on September 23, 2026, by initiating CPR and AED certification training for 16 student teachers, helping equip future educators with lifesaving skills they can carry into classrooms, schools, and the broader community.
Supported by VIK Complete Care, the training provided participants with hands-on instruction in recognizing a cardiac emergency, performing CPR, properly using an automated external defibrillator (AED), and understanding how to respond during the critical moments before emergency medical personnel arrive.
The importance of cardiac emergency preparedness has carried particular meaning within the Lake Travis community following the recent death of a Lake Travis High School student athlete who experienced sudden cardiac arrest during football practice. The loss reinforced the importance of having people throughout schools and the community who are prepared to recognize a cardiac emergency and take immediate action.
For Jamie Ennis, Lead Nurse at Lake Travis High School, providing CPR and AED education to student teachers was an opportunity to prepare future educators for situations they may encounter throughout their careers.
“Teachers spend so much of their day caring for students, and being prepared for a medical emergency is another important part of creating a safe school environment. After what our community has experienced, we understand how quickly an emergency can happen. Providing our student teachers with CPR and AED training gives them practical skills and greater confidence to respond if they are ever faced with that situation.”
Jamie Ennis, Lead Nurse at Lake Travis High School
The CPR and AED certification was led by Christian and Jared with Republic EMS. Through hands-on practice, participants had the opportunity to learn the techniques involved in CPR, become more familiar with AED use, and practice how to respond during a cardiac emergency.
“CPR and AED certification is about more than learning the steps. It is about practicing those skills and building the confidence to respond when an emergency happens,” said Christian and Jared with Republic EMS. “When someone experiences a cardiac emergency, the people already there may have an opportunity to help before EMS arrives. Having more teachers and community members trained means more people are prepared to step in when those first few minutes matter.”
Schools are unique environments where teachers and staff interact with hundreds of students, families, colleagues, and visitors throughout the year. Preparing future educators in CPR and AED use creates an opportunity for that knowledge to travel with them as they move into their own classrooms and begin their careers.
For VIK Complete Care, supporting CPR and AED training within local schools is part of a broader effort to bring emergency education outside of the emergency room and directly into the communities it serves.
“Every person we can help educate adds another person in the community who may be prepared to respond when someone needs help,” said Shauna Tripp, Regional Marketing Liaison for VIK Complete Care. “What makes training student teachers especially meaningful is that they can carry these skills with them into future schools and communities throughout their careers.”
The September 23 class also builds upon ongoing CPR and AED education efforts supported by VIK Complete Care throughout the Lake Travis area. By working with schools and other public facing organizations, VIK Complete Care aims to increase access to lifesaving education and encourage more individuals to become prepared before an emergency happens.
“Community outreach is about more than being present at an event. We want to support education that people can take with them and potentially use when it matters most,” said George Reainthong, Director of Marketing & Growth for Complete Care. “The loss experienced by the Lake Travis community is a reminder of why preparedness matters. By helping educate future teachers, we hope these skills continue moving into classrooms, schools, and communities for years to come.”
About Complete Care
Complete Care is a network of freestanding emergency and urgent care centers providing 24-hour services across Texas and Colorado. With a commitment to delivering rapid access to safe, affordable, and compassionate care, the company combines the clinical capabilities of a hospital emergency department with the convenience and service patients deserve.
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