Teaching Children to Save Lives

CAMERON McFarlane was faced with having to resuscitate five people within two years and it inspired him to spend some of his long service leave teaching school children how to save lives, including children at St Mary’s and Scone Grammar School.

In Australia the survival rate for people needing CPR is only 10 percent compared to people living in Seattle who have a 64 percent survival rate.

Cameron McFarlane said the difference comes down to people knowing how to perform CPR and being up to date with new techniques that increase survival.

“You could be anywhere when someone collapses and needs CPR, I’ve been at soccer games, around water and even on mother’s day when my own grandmother collapsed and training helps you stay calm and know that care they need,” said Mr McFarlane.

“I decided to take some time off and teach children how to do CPR, so I’ve been in my own car traveling around the state to to 27 schools,” he said.

“We talk to the children about how messy CPR can be in real life, that they may have vomited and lost control of their bowels, so that they are not shocked, that they know that might be the case and they stay calm,” he said.

“We also talk about how the person giving CPR copes with how the patient goes, it’s important not to blame yourself if they can’t be revived, but it is critical people have the knowledge and the confidence how to perform CPR well to give them the best chance of survival,” Cameron McFarlane said.

Student, Laura Hannaford at St Mary’s said she enjoyed learning CPR.

“It’s pretty exciting to learn for emergencies,” said Ms Hannaford.

“I am proud ot be learning it, but hopefully I don’t want to have to use it,” she said.

“My mum had to watch someone use it and the man survive,” said Laura Hannaford.

Teacher, Genevieve Cook said the children were very engaged with the training.

“It is a fantastic initiative and a valuable life lesson for the kids,” said Mrs Cook.

“Hopefully they will never have to use it, but it is great to equip them with confidence and knowledge,” Genevieve Cook said.

Tomorrow adults will have the chance to learn CPR and update their skills, for more information see the story: Ready for a Close Call.

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