Take plunge on CPR
Coast mum urges you to wise up
PARENTS including a Gold Coast mum and pool industry experts want compulsory CPR courses after an online poll found 39 per cent of respondents had adequate CPR skills to save a life.
The Australian Red Cross is providing free online courses from today.
The survey, conducted by Poolwerx for April Pools Day, surveyed 500 people and also found 93 per cent of parents and pool owners believe CPR qualifications should be compulsory.
Gold Coast mother of five Jane Moana, who almost lost her 18-month-old son in a pool, is urging parents to take the opportunity.
“It all happened so quickly but next thing I knew I had jumped in the pool and I was screaming for help,” she said.
I couldn’t tell if he had a pulse, so I pulled him out and started to give him CPR.”
“I can’t even fathom what it would have felt like if I didn’t know how to save him. I agree CPR should be compulsory. We count our blessings everyday. He’s now two and a half.”
The young boy was then taken to hospital and given the all clear – all thanks to Ms Moana’s knowledge from more than 20 years of CPR refresher courses.
“So many people have asked me how I stayed so calm under that pressure and the answer is training,” she said. “I refresh my CPR skills each year and it really does teach you how to react under pressure.
“Even with the pain of having to do it to my own child it just kicked in when I needed it most.”
Ms Moana recommends all parents look into the free CPR courses, as they can save a child’s life anywhere, not just in the pool.
“It’s also important to keep up with swimming lessons and make sure they’re confident swimmers and its always safety first around the pool.”
Laurie Lawrence, founder of Kids Alive and long-time ambassador of April Pools Day, said people were not prioritising CPR training with perceived cost and time outlay major factors cited for not learning the lifesaving skill.
“People have no issue spending $100 on dinner or going to the movies but mention doing a course and all of a sudden no one has the time or money,” he said.