If you are lucky enough to have the privilege of looking after grandchildren, water safety experts are urging you to make sure you know how to save their life in an emergency.
Royal Life Saving (RLSSA) and Kids Alive have launched The Heart Beat Club, a free online training course aimed at empowering Australians with vital CPR and first aid skills for infants and toddlers.
Laurie Lawrence, founder of Kids Alive and a grandfather of five, says all grandparents should know CPR.
“When you have grandchildren, their safety becomes your top priority. Knowing CPR isn’t just a skill; it’s a lifeline. I can’t stress enough how important it is for grandparents to be prepared for emergencies,” he said.
A recent survey by RLSSA highlighted a concerning gap: while 90% of Australians recognise the importance of CPR training, only 59% have completed it, and a mere 23% have done so in the past year. These statistics underscore a pressing need for more education and regular skill refreshers.
“More than 40% of people don’t have any CPR skills, and we know resuscitation knowledge significantly diminishes within 3-6 months post-training,” explained Lauren Nimmo, Senior Manager of Research, Media, and Communications at Royal Life Saving WA.
“The Heart Beat Club removes common barriers like cost and time, making life-saving knowledge accessible to everyone.”
The Heart Beat Club is designed to be completed in just one hour and covers a range of essential topics, including CPR, treatment of common injuries, choking, burns, scalds, control of bleeding, dealing with shock, and control of communicable diseases.
“Lives are lost in pools, dams, baths, sinks, and even eskies. These lives could potentially be saved using the skills learnt in just 60 minutes at home with The Heart Beat Club,” Laurie says.
The course is available for free until the end of May.
“Grandparents, this is your opportunity to make a significant difference. Imagine the peace of mind knowing you can confidently respond in a crisis. Any attempt at CPR when a child is not breathing can dramatically increase survival rates. Come on, there is no excuse!”
To register for the course, visit www.heartbeatclub.org.au.
