In just one year, Netcare’s cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) programme has expanded from community parks to corporate offices and now to schools, underscoring the healthcare provider’s commitment to fostering emergency preparedness across South Africa.
Mande Toubkin, Netcare’s general manager of emergency, trauma, transplant, and corporate social investment, has been a driving force behind the CPR programme. “I started by teaching the members of the community where I live to do CPR in the local park. It was so well received that we rolled out the CPR in the park concept via our Netcare Trauma Injury Prevention Programme for Mandela Day 2023,” she says.
The successful initiative saw over 1,600 people trained, and CPR demonstrations took place everywhere – from beaches to the Cape Town Waterfront. The CPR initiative soon found a new home in office environments, with several companies incorporating CPR training into their wellness days, emphasising the importance of emergency preparedness in the workplace.
Recognising the potential to extend this lifesaving training to younger generations, Lourinda Wolmarans, emergency department manager at Netcare Garden City Hospital, suggested introducing a CPR programme targeted at schoolchildren.
“If you want to instil essential skills and awareness in adults, you should start with the children,” says Toubkin.
“Our next goal is to expand this programme to train parents and caregivers, equipping them with the knowledge to save the lives of infants and small children. This initiative resonates with Netcare’s commitment to community health and safety and sets a strong foundation for future generations to be better prepared in emergencies.
“We proudly collaborate with the Resuscitation Council of Southern Africa, adhering to their stringent protocols within Netcare’s emergency and trauma facilities. This established partnership made it a natural fit to join forces once again for this important initiative,” she adds.
The importance of CPR training cannot be overstated. In a life-or-death situation, a basic understanding of CPR can make all the difference. David Stanton, chairman of the Resuscitation Council of Southern Africa and general manager of Netcare Milpark Hospital, explains, “CPR is a resuscitation technique that performs the same action as the heartbeat and breathing to maintain the flow of oxygenated blood to the brain, thereby preventing brain damage when the heart stops beating. It has many applications, including for heart attacks and near drownings.”
“As South Africa heads into spring and summer, the incidence of drownings regrettably becomes more frequent. It can take as little as five minutes for brain damage from lack of oxygen to occur. CPR can keep the brain supplied with oxygen until an advanced life support paramedic can take over treatment,” he adds.
According to Toubkin, the impact of CPR awareness is already being felt. “Shortly after completing a CPR in the Park programme, a community group led by Bonita Viljoen, manager of the emergency department of Netcare Sunninghill Hospital, saved a runner who went into cardiac arrest. Not only was this community trained in CPR, but they had the right equipment, as they had invested in a defibrillator, which helped restart the victim’s heart. The runner has since fully recovered and has become a volunteer in the CPR in the Park programme too,” she recounts.
"Netcare and the Resuscitation Council of Southern Africa are calling on schools nationwide to empower learners with the crucial life skill of CPR. They have designated Friday, 6 September 2024, as the special day for this important training. On this day, each Netcare hospital will partner with nearby schools to conduct CPR demonstrations at the schools. Join us in making a difference and equipping earners with life-saving skills.
“Should some schools be unable to participate on this specific day, efforts will be made to accommodate them at a more suitable time,” notes Toubkin.
“Practical knowledge of CPR can, in many cases, mean the difference between life and death,” she adds.
“In an emergency, every second counts, and there is no time to be lost looking in a first-aid book or googling ‘How to perform CPR’. If a person is unconscious, unresponsive, and not breathing for themselves, they require immediate help.
“It is our most sincere hope that by imparting this practical knowledge to more people, and specifically children, we can make a positive impact in their lives and the lives of others,” says Toubkin.
“This initiative is more than just a training programme; it is a movement towards a safer, more prepared society, where the ability to save a life is in everyone’s hands.”
Ends
Notes to editor
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