Schoolkids learn how to save lives

‘This program can make a real difference to someone’s life, and the lives of their loved ones.’

EMERGENCY INSTRUCTION: Biloela Ambulance Service officer-in-charge Terry Zillman teaches students vital CPR knowledge at the Biloela PCYC.

MORE than 100 primary school students have been equipped with the knowledge and skills required to tackle an emergency situation.

Prep to Year 5 students from Jambin, Goovigen, Prospect Creek and Mt Murchison state schools took part in the QAS CPR Awareness Program at the Biloela PCYC last week.

The program aims to provide the community with the knowledge, skills and confidence necessary to respond to a sudden out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Biloela Ambulance service officer-in-charge Terry Zillmann provided first-hand instructions and demonstrations showing students how to provide CPR and clear the airways of an adult.

“It was really pleasing to see that the Year 5 group had already had plenty of exposure as to what to do in that situation,” Mr Zillmann said.

“And even through you’re thinking, ‘how can I teach Prep students to do CPR’ they were like sponges of information.

“While they don’t have the physical strength to compress on the chest of an adult, they learnt how to put someone in a lateral position so their airways are left open.”

Mr Zillmann took the students through the theories and steps associated with CPR training including DRABC (Danger, Response, Airway, Breathing and Circulation) and COWS (can you hear me, open your eyes, what’s your name, squeeze my fingers) by using a life-sized adult mannequin.

“Prep students and young kids think they might not be able to roll Mum and Dad over on their side if I need to,” Mr Zillmann said.

“We show them the technique, left arm out, right knee up and push on the right knee and shoulder and they were all getting this realistic mannequin over onto its side.”

Mr Zillmann said it was pleasing to see that QAS messages for kids, like knowing their address and being able to call 000 had stuck with the students from Prep right through to graduation.

“Seventy-six per cent of cardiac arrests occur at home and the most likely witness is a spouse or family member,” Mr Zillmann said.

“This program can make a real difference to someone’s life, and the lives of their loved ones.”

Each year level spent one hour in CPR education, while other sessions on the day focused on physical health and team-building activities.

“A lot of workplaces in Biloela, being a rural and industrial area, a lot of employers require their staff to be first aid-trained,” Mr Zillmann said.

“The saturation of community members trained in CPR is good and we want to make it even better.”

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