Hendersonville High Freshman Saves Father's Life with CPR Skills

Fourteen-year-old Delsy Hernandez, a freshman at Hendersonville High School, is being hailed as a hero after saving her father's life using CPR techniques she recently learned in class.

 

Late one night, Delsy was awakened by her mother's urgent cries. Rushing to her parents' bedroom, she found her father unresponsive and not breathing. Drawing upon the CPR training she had completed just a month prior, Delsy immediately began chest compressions while her family contacted emergency services.

 

"I was shocked I was able to actually do it," Delsy recounted, reflecting on the intense situation.

 

Her father regained consciousness before paramedics arrived and, after several days in the hospital, is now recovering at home. He expressed profound gratitude, stating, "I don't know what to say. I'm feeling really, really good. I'm with my family again."

 

Health and wellness instructors Reid Kauffman and Brandon Avery, who co-teach the CPR unit at Hendersonville High, praised Delsy's composure and swift action. "To see a young person step up like that, stay calm, and save a life," Avery noted, "It shows anybody can do this. You just have to step up."

 

Delsy's experience underscores the importance of CPR education. Since the spring, more than 320 students at Hendersonville High have earned CPR certification through the school's program, equipping them with vital lifesaving skills.

 

Located at 123 Cherokee Road in Hendersonville, Tennessee, Hendersonville High School is part of the Sumner County Schools district. Under the leadership of Principal Mel Sawyers, the school emphasizes both academic excellence and personal growth, fostering a community where students are prepared to handle real-life challenges.

 

Delsy hopes her story will inspire more students across Middle Tennessee to pursue CPR training, emphasizing that these skills can make a critical difference in emergencies.