The life lessons to be learned from extracurricular activities are profound and far-reaching. But this event took the teaching of life lessons to a whole other level.

Recently, a group of Manheim Township High School (MTHS) students and teachers learned skills and techniques that could be considered both life-altering and lifesaving, figuratively and literally.

"This ranks right up at the top of the experiences we have provided," said Mark Evans, who's been the head football coach and a school counselor at MTHS for 13 years. "There's no other way to describe it. Our (football) program is not just about X's and O's. It's not just about the football experience. It's about life experiences. It's about constant character development. It's what we're trying to teach our group."

During a morning strength-training class in late February, about 105 MTHS students in grades nine through 11 and teachers - a vast majority of whom are associated with the Blue Streaks' highly successful football program - were certified in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and AED (automated external defibrillator) use. The training was provided free of charge by the Peyton Walker Foundation and offered to the students and teachers on a voluntary basis.

Of those 105 individuals, all but two became certified in CPR/AED training for the first time.

"Sudden cardiac arrest is the No. 1 killer of high school kids," said Evans. "I think (CPR/AED is) an essential life-saving skill. I was just looking for a vehicle for training a large group of kids."

"I've been CPR-trained for 30 years," continued Evans. "I've never had to use it. But it's better to have it and not use it than to not have it and need it. I can't say enough about having that skill."

The CPR/AED training was led by Billy Odom, an instructor with the Peyton Walker Foundation, and four local emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Located in Mechanicsburg, the Peyton Walker Foundation, which is named for a 19-year-old college sophomore who died due to cardiac arrest in 2013, provides education, training, screenings and equipment to organizations and school districts throughout central Pennsylvania.

"You have to determine if the person is unresponsive or if there is breathing," explained Evans. "You have to let the person know you are there to help if you can. Someone calls 911, someone gets the AED and you start compressions around the breast plate. You sing a song like the old Bee Gees' song 'Stayin' Alive.' You pump, you pump, you pump, and then another person jumps in until the AED arrives. You make sure you're pushing firmly, and the mannequin will give you feedback. The AED technology is amazing; it will determine if a shock is needed or not."

Evans said that the students present at the training were motivated by the seriousness of the subject material.

"They were very attentive," said Evans. "The kids genuinely came out of there like, 'This is really cool.'"

"I was grateful," added Evans. "When you're trying new things, you never know how it's going to resonate."

The important exercise also served as an invaluable team-building experience for a program whose success is founded on unity.

"(Team building) is every day," said Evans. "I'm always thinking about group messages. We do a lot of things that are year-round. It's a process of coming together. To me, team building is paramount to your success. You're always trying to give (student-athletes) value. That's where this experience came in."

For additional information about the Peyton Walker Foundation, go to http://www.peytonwalker.org.