WORCESTER, Mass. - In lieu of gym class Friday, students at North High School were trained in CPR by UMass Chan Medical School Students.

"When we don't have someone who is a doctor or EMS around, often times, students can be the first responders," said Elizabeth Hurley, Worcester Public Schools' health and physical education liaison. "So, if you can help a friend out or a family member, that could be life saving."

The Journal of the American College of Cardiology reported in a 2022 study that about 377,000 adults and 23,000 children in the U.S. experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year. Survival rates are low: 10.5% for adults and 11.3% for children.

"At the end of the day, I think any time we can have our students who are out in the community, have some skills to help save a life, it's going to be huge," Hurley said. "I really appreciate the high school kids were willing to try this."

The students and medical school worked in conjunction with the Manny 267 Foundation, which was founded in honor of late Worcester Police Officer Enmanuel Familia, who died in 2021 while trying to save a drowning teenager in Green Hill Park.

"It all goes hand and hand," said Familia's brother Elvin. "Swimming lessons, CPR training. It all comes down to saving lives."

Elvin Familia was in attendance for the training, encouraging the students. After his brother's passing, Familia said public safety became a personal mission of his.

"It's a promise I made to Manny when we laid him to rest, that I would do everything in my power to make sure his name and sacrifice is not forgotten," he said. "The best way I can do that is continuing his job."

CPR training is not mandatory in Massachusetts schools, but organizers hope to teach as many students as possible. Friday's lesson was a pilot program, with the goal of expanding it across the state.