The Importance of Resuscitation

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"Everyone can be a lifesaver"
- Royal Life Saving Society

​Every month we highlight an aspect of water safety. This month we wanted to draw your attention to the importance of knowing CPR - a set of skills that is critical in many emergency situations, not just aquatic emergencies. 

According to the Royal Life Saving Society (Australia), in most drowning or near-drowning events, a family member is usually the first on the scene. Knowing what to do in an emergency situation and responding quickly is paramount to increasing a patient's chance of survival. Many children have their parents to thank for saving their lives, as they knew how to perform CPR.

The NSW Study of Drowning and Near Drowning in Children found a child is four times more likely to survive a near drowning if parents know CPR and start it immediately. Professor Danny Cass, Trauma Surgeon at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, said the study highlighted that early intervention is a lifesaver, “early CPR has been shown to contribute to greater survival rates with four times as many positive health outcomes.” 
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To download and print a copy of a CPR chart, free of charge, visit NSW Ambulance. The information provided in the chart is not intended as a substitute for completing a First Aid or CPR course.

By enroling in a CPR or First Aid course, you can learn how to save someone's life. Royal Life Saving Society (Australia) has many resources available for parents including CPR charts, fact sheets and courses available to enrol in. Visit ​www.royallifesaving.com.au/families/at-home/training/resuscitation-cpr for more information.

DRS ABCD

(This information is not intended to substitute the lifesaving skills learnt through participating in a First Aid or CPR course. Col Jones Hurstville urges all our parents and carers to enrol in a course today.)

Danger - Check for danger
Response - Is the patient unresponsive?
Send for help - Shout for help, call 000 for an ambulance, and ask for a defibrillator if there is one available
Airway - Check airway is open and unobstructed
Breathing - Look, listen and feel for breathing
CPR - Start CPR (30 compressions : 2 breaths)
Defibrillator - Attach a defibrillator as soon as it is available

Author: Josephine is our Swim School Coordinator. She is dedicated to educating not just our students, but all of our parents and carers too, on essential swim safety elements.