On Friday 16th November, together with 7 other users of The Park Centre, Kirkintilloch, I took part as a representative of the Society in a 3 hour Basic Life Support and safe use of an Automated External Defibrillator course organised by St Andrew's First Aid.
After registration we were introduced to the topics by a combination of teaching slides and illustrations but principally by practical demonstrations using dummy torsos and a teaching model of the type of defibrillator recently installed in The Park Centre. At the end of the session we had all been given the opportunity to take part in 3 basic procedures viz cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), use of the defibrillator and how to achieve the Recovery Position.
While it was apparent that these techniques required some basic knowledge and a degree of dexterity in their performance, we all felt more confident and less inhibited about our individual abilities at the end of the training course due in part to the facilities provided by The Park Centre - including a cup of tea and biscuits, and the skills of the trainer and equipment supplied by St Andrew's First Aid. Hopefully we will all have learned and achieved a Certificate.
Thanks all round.
David Graham
