Learning to save lives

By Callan Date
THE ability to save a life is priceless.
Some of the 12 participants taking part in a first aid course at Lynex Health Care and Training Services in Narre Warren are returning for a refresher session, while others are learning for the first time.
But all want to know how to save a life.
Occupations range from childcare workers to scientists, all of them eager to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Carrum Downs swimming instructor Julie Jansz is required to know CPR as part of a work environment in which she is surrounded by water and inexperienced swimmers.
“Thankfully I have never had to put my first aid training to use but I am confident I would know what to do if something happened at the swimming centre,” Ms Jansz said.
Many of the firstaid participants agree that the skills they are learning will also hold them in good stead outside work hours.
Cindy Robins, 34, is a childcare worker and is required to undertake a CPR refresher course every 12 months.
“I can be looking after up to seven young children at any one time, so it is vital to have first aid training and knowing CPR is essential,” Ms Robins said.
Wanting to know what to do in an emergency is a common theme among the course participants and they all believe their training would instinctively kick in in an emergency.
“Fortunately I have never had to use the CPR skills in a real life situation, but it’s great to know that if something was to happen I would know what to do,” Ms Robins said.
Microbiologist Teresa Abajo, 33, has been wanting to undertake a firstaid course for 15 years and is excited at the prospect of having proper emergency training.
“I’m always at sporting activities with the kids and having elderly parents and inlaws means it’s a vital tool to have,” Ms Abajo said.
Lynex Health Care and Training Services director Delene Lynex said her centre trained around 1000 people each year in a range of different first aid courses.
“I believe it is important for people to have a basic knowledge of firstaid practices, as there are so many different circumstances that may arise where someone needs to know what to do in an emergency,” Ms Lynex said.
Ms Lynex and her staff also run first aid courses at the Narre Community Learning Centre and have seen a steady increase in enrolments over the last two years.
“We are finding a lot more people want to learn first aid so they can take care of their families in case of an emergency,” she said.
Paramedics, doctors and nurses all know what to do, emergency workers also have essential lifesaving skills and it also seems that many everyday citizens want to know how to react in a life or death situation.