Life Flora Hospital hosted a life-saving Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training session on July 18, highlighting the significance of community health and emergency preparedness.
Accredited by The Resuscitation Council of South Africa, the course aimed to equip participants with essential skills to respond effectively in emergencies. Attendees, ranging from community members, businessmen, psychologists, and child caretakers, were taught the basics of CPR by experienced medical professionals. The session covered crucial techniques, including chest compressions, rescue breaths, and the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).
Sharlene Dixon and Craig de Bruyn facilitated the training, taking the attendees through all the necessary steps to administer CPR effectively. The first part of the training was about administering adult CPR and AED, as well as hands-only CPR and CPR with breaths. Chocking in adults was also covered.
“There is no dead deader deadest in life if someone falls in your presence and they are not breathing or conscious, then the necessary steps of CPR must be followed to try to keep the person alive till the emergency services arrive,” Sharlene shared.
The second part of the training comprised of Child CPR and AED where the attendees were taught about compressions and breaths when administering CPR on children. Sharlene emphasised the importance of making sure that CPR is done correctly while prioritising safety for both you as the administrator and the patient. Child mannequins were used for the attendees to practice on and the Sharlene demonstrated how choking in children should be handled.
The third part covered infant CPR and choking in infants. The attendees followed the demonstrations and instructions from Craig and Sharlene who used infant dolls to practice how to handle emergencies where an infant is involved. Sharlene also shared tips on how to feel for a pulse in infants as their pulse, unlike adults and children, can be felt just right under their arms.
Discussions were held throughout the training as the facilitators answered any questions that arose from the floor, providing more clarity and information on each of them. The Participants appreciated the hands-on experience and the opportunity to practice on mannequins under the guidance of experts.
Many expressed a newfound confidence in their ability to perform CPR, recognising the potential impact of their actions in real-life scenarios. At the end of the training, the attendees were awarded CPR certificates which qualify them as accredited CPR administrators and are valid for two years.
