Last week, a Bristow High School student sustained an injury while attending a diesel technology class at Central Tech on the Drumright campus.
Upon inquiry, Campus Director Shane Bruce and Marketing and Communications Director Stephanie Pool confirmed that a Bristow student had sustained the injury with Bruce noting that the injury was minor and that the student returned to school the following day.
According to Bruce, misinformed rumors began to swirl on social media accounts without cause, which prompted concern among the general public about student safety on the campus. He made it clear, albeit defensively, that student safety and privacy were among the staff ’s top concerns. Bruce also said that the injury was addressed immediately with the student’s parents being notified and included in the student’s subsequent transfer to and treatment at Drumright Regional Hospital. On behalf of Central Tech, Pool sent the following statement: “We can confirm that a Bristow High School student in our diesel technology class sustained an injury to the finger, and we have taken all appropriate steps in response. While we cannot disclose the identity of the student due to privacy laws, we can assure you that the instructor was present during the incident, and the student received immediate medical attention. Our administrative team and the student’s parents were promptly notified, and all necessary protocols were followed.
Safety is a top priority in all our programs. All students are required to complete comprehensive safety training before operating any equipment. This incident was handled swiftly and efficiently, with no deviation from our established safety procedures. We continually review our practices to ensure they meet the highest standards of safety and efficacy.
Central Tech strictly adheres to Oklahoma's requirements for instructor training and professional development, including certifications in first aid, CPR, and the availability of AEDs on campus. Additionally, all of our health and medical classes are taught by industry- licensed professionals (including many nurses), enhancing our preparedness and response capabilities in emergencies.”
Unfortunately, specific information regarding tech instructor and staff safety, first aid, CPR, and AED training was not provided. Additionally, no request was made by me or Bristow News, at any point, for disclosure of the student’s identity, gender, age, or school, specifically; however, the student’s school district was requested if available.
As for Oklahoma’s instructor and professional development requirements, available information varies by source. Generally, multiple online sources
See Injury, Page Two agreed that instructors are required to be CPR certified at or within 90 days of hire, but they are not required to maintain certification. Several sources also noted that online or virtual CPR and other training certifications are acceptable.
Regarding CPR and Heimlich Maneuver training, the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s website states that for the 2024-2025 school year, “Appropriate staff including, but not limited to ALL athletic coaches, athletic trainers, and school nurses must complete CPR/AED training yearly.” The website adds “The Oklahoma State Department of Education offers professional development for teachers and administrators in multiple formats, including synchronous and asynchronous virtual sessions, webinars, and in-person regional workshops”, seemingly confirming the acceptance of virtual trainings and certifications.
When student privacy and safety concerns exist within and collide with the extremely litigious society in which we live, schools often become defensive and fear disclosing anything about their policies and practices, even when it likely results in transparency and bolsters public confidence in the educational institutions themselves. In this case, some of those issues proved evident.
As a result, we are forced to trust that our schools are following the guidelines and requirements, and hope that they opt to exceed them, to ensure that students remain safe and receive appropriate safeguards for their well-being while in their care. However, we must also accept some of the responsibility for schools’ hesitations in specifically disclosing their safety practices given our critical and litigious attitudes and actions.
For decades, Central Tech has provided quality education and safety for its students. While some students have been injured on site, accidents occur everywhere. Thankfully, the injured Bristow student of last week reportedly quickly returned to all normal activities. Much of that credit belongs to the swift response of Central Tech staff.