Last week, a group of Soroptimists and friends benefitted from a CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and First Aid training organised by the St James Medical School. It was an official American Heart Association HeartSaver course taught by certified American Heart Association instructors. The course, which lasted about two and a half hours, was enjoyable and the instructors took time to make sure everyone understood all the procedures and could carry them out successfully.
The course included video presentations with pauses after each section for practice and consolidation. Each participant learnt how to give compressions and breaths correctly using mannequins. The use of the AED (automated external defibrillator) was demonstrated and each person practised using it.
Following the CPR instructions an hour of first aid was given. This included dealing with choking, bleeding, stroke, seizures and allergic reactions. Choking in infants and babies and CPR for babies was also taught.
The instruction was a friendly and enjoyable experience and at the end each participant received a certificate to show what had been achieved. The St James Medical School plans to give similar free courses to other groups on the island. It is a course that everyone should take as this type of knowledge and training could save a life.
