Cannington Leisureplex lifeguards save life
Two lifeguards from the Cannington Leisureplex received Gold Medallion Bravery Awards at the Royal Life Saving WA Bravery Awards for their extraordinary responsiveness and skill in saving a child’s life.
When an unsupervised child was found unresponsive in deep water at Cannington Leisureplex, lifeguards Abbi Sharp and Harry Luan sprang into action.
Abbi removed the unconscious child from the water and began to administer CPR whilst Harry quickly retrieved oxygen and a defibrillator.
Their combined efforts proved lifesaving, as the child regained consciousness and began to respond before paramedics arrived to take over. Thanks to the prompt CPR and administration of oxygen, the child made a full recovery.
Abbi and Harry’s quick, calm, and professional response is a key example of the importance of first aid training, and both lifeguards attribute their first aid and lifeguard qualifications to their ability to respond to the incident so efficiently.
“Surprisingly while dealing with the incident did not feel panicked or stressed, I just remembered my training and knew what I had to do,” Abbi said.
“My training was all that I was thinking about while dealing with the incident and it left no room in my mind for me to be stressing and worrying about the outcome of the situation.”
While you don’t need a Pool Lifeguard qualification, knowing basic CPR and first aid which teach you to be able to react effectively in an emergency, can mean the difference between life and death while waiting for emergency services to arrive. But while we all understand the importance of resuscitation, it’s crucial to remember that CPR skills need regular renewal and updating.
Research shows that two months after completing CPR training, there’s already a 50% decline in skills. After three years, only 2% of people can perform CPR effectively. This natural decline underscores why it’s so important to keep your training fresh.
Enrol in a first aid or CPR course today and stay ready to save a life. Find a course near you at the link below.
