Parents take advantage of free CPR workshop

CHILD and Parent Centre Dudley Park recently hosted a free CPR and first aid workshop for parents.

Attendees completed the Royal Life Saving Society WA’s Heart Beat Club, a short community training course designed specifically for parents.

The course covers resuscitation and first aid for common childhood injuries such as burns and scalds, choking and falls.

The course has been made available through the Royal Life Saving Society WA’s Keep Watch toddler drowning prevention program.

Since 2014, the Keep Watch program has provided grants for community organisations working with disadvantaged communities to provide Heart Beat Club courses.

Many groups in the community do not attend first aid training due to barriers such as cost and the grants program aims to overcome these barriers.

Drowning is the leading cause of preventable death in children under the age of five in Australia and CPR performed at the scene is one potential way to protect children in the event of an emergency.

In a recent survey, only one third of parents had completed first aid or CPR training in the past 12 months suggesting that parents may not be able to help their child in the event of an emergency.

Keep Watch Program Coordinator Stephanie Green said the single most important drowning prevention strategy is supervision of young children, but unfortunately we know that at times adult supervision lapses, allowing a child to find their way into water.

“In many cases of child drowning, a parent will be the first person on the scene,” she said.

“In these situations, a parent applying basic CPR skills can genuinely be the difference between life and death.”

Child and Parent Centre Dudley Park manager Justine Hansen said it was great to have an opportunity available for families at the centre, many of whom wouldn’t normally be able to access this kind of course.

For more information about how to organise a Heart Beat Club call Royal Life Saving WA on 9383 8200.