Demand for CPR training in schools

THE Department of Education is being urged to introduce mandatory Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training in schools.

Senator Darragh O’Brien, Fianna Fail’s candidate in Dublin Fingal for the general election, called on Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan to introduce a CPR and defibrillator module as part of the Transition Year programme.

“Every year in Ireland there are between 5,000 and 6,000 cardiac arrests,

? said Senator O’Brien.

“Survival rates following cardiac arrest are directly related to the time it takes before resuscitation or defibrillation.

“If a defibrillator is used within five minutes of a person going into cardiac arrest, survival rates jump by 50 per cent.

“It stands to reason that the more people trained in CPR and the use of defibrillators, the more lives will be saved in the case of emergencies.

?

Senator O’Brien pointed out that Transition Year is a time for learning new skills.

“It provides the perfect opportunity to comprehensively train teenagers in CPR and defibrillator use within a school setting,

? he argued.

“They would then carry those life-saving skills throughout their lives, enabling them to make a real difference in the case of emergencies.

? The Department of Education and Skills provides guidelines on Transition Year (TY) programmes, and grant assistance to support TY in schools.

However, a spokeswoman for the Department said it does not interfere in the specific TY curriculum of a school, nor compel schools to initiate individual programmes, either at school or national level.

“This is in order to allow maximum flexibility to schools within the overarching Department guidelines,

? she told Northside People.

“These guidelines, for example, discourage an over-emphasis on content which links directly to Leaving Certificate, and promotes the development of life skills among students. Such life skills can, of course, include first aid skills.

?

The spokeswoman said there were no plans to amend this position.

“It will remain within the decision-making powers of schools themselves to provide any training in general first aid, or more specific training in areas such as defibrillation, as their programmes, timetables, staffing and resources permit,

? she added.