Numbers needed to save lives

Teacher Irene Compagnino with community members. (Ljubica Vrankovic) 419403_01

St John Ambulance Victoria is providing free CPR training to residents of Sunshine as part of the Defib in your Street Community Program.

Classes are held every Tuesday at the West Sunshine Community Centre, from 10am to 12.30pm, and every Friday, from 2pm to 4.30pm, at the Visy Cares Hub.

Program organiser Marj Devereux implored everybody in the Brimbank area to take advantage of the program and learn a skill that could save a life.

“CPR is a really important skill in the chain of survival,” she said.

“Early intervention is so important, and learning through this course may help you save a life.

“We have this free training available for people to upskill themselves, so why would you not do it?

‘We are also aiming to destigmatise the skill level people think it requires … you can be fully trained up after a two and a half hour course.”

There have already been 402 people in Sunshine trained through the program, and there are opportunities for hundreds more, with the program set to stick around well into next year.

Registration is essential, and participants will receive a certificate upon completion.

The course topics include the DRSABCD action plan and responding to emergency situations, managing unconscious casualties, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and using a defibrillator (AED).

Register: defibinyourstreet.org.au

Gerald Lynch