By Matthew Wong
A two-hour CPR/AED training course was organised by BEC St Bernadette from the Church of the Divine Mercy. Conducted by St John Ambulance Malaysia (SJAM), it was held on Oct 26 at St Faustina Hall. The course covered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) skills, including theory, demonstrations, and hands-on practice with manikins.
Initially aimed at all BECs of CDM, the course was expanded to include hospitality ministers, who serve as first responders for any parishioner experiencing breathing difficulties or cardiac arrest during Mass.
The session was well-attended, with 33 participants. Most attendees were from the BECs, with St Bernadette BEC making up approximately 50 per cent of the group.
Post-session feedback was overwhelmingly positive. One parishioner expressed regret that he hadn’t learned CPR sooner, which might have helped him save his father. However, he now feels prepared to handle an emergency involving a loved one or a stranger. The four SJAM trainers skilfully answered numerous questions from parishioners, making the session both informative and engaging.
A key takeaway from the course was the clarification that mouth-to-mouth resuscitation isn’t required for CPR. Chest compressions alone can be an effective and safe method to assist someone in cardiac arrest, which was the primary focus of the training.
Promoting a “first-responder culture,” SJAM aims to empower everyday people with CPR and AED skills. Alongside their paid public programmes, SJAM also offers free sessions for groups of 30 or more, making life-saving skills more accessible. CDM was fortunate to benefit from this initiative, and many attendees left with a new sense of readiness and confidence, equipped with a life-saving skill they can carry forward. – Herald Malaysia
