Jigalong mums learn to keep hearts beating

Royal Life Saving WA is keen to see all Western Australians learn vital lifesaving skills. Our Heart Beat Club course provides a simple option for parents who want have the skills they need to deal with common childhood injuries, but who don’t need a full first aid qualification.

Recently Royal Life Saving WA’s Deb Gill, Program Coordinator at Jigalong Remote Aboriginal Swimming Pool, held a special Heart Beat Club course for mums in the community who have kindy aged and pre-school children.

The course aims to increase participants’ skills and confidence in CPR and First Aid on infants and children. Deb says the women showed great interest in the session. “I think the women enjoyed and got a lot out of it. We covered choking, poisons, snake bites, water safety, CPR on a child and why it is important to Keep Watch in and around the pool.”

For this group of mums it was important for them to not only learn how to keep their children safe in and around the home, but also around the rivers and creeks where community members often enjoy spending time.

Deb says the women were keen to continue their education further. “They want to do a follow up session with the adult manikins and defib, so I’m hoping to sneak that in before the end of the pool season.”

This Heart Beat Club education session was made possible thanks to support from principal Community Partner BHP.

You can find out more about how you can take part in the Heart Beat Club at the link below.