The children in Year 6 took part in a workshop called ‘Restart a Heart’, which has been created in collaboration between the Newcastle United Foundation and the North East Ambulance Service.
Within the workshop, the children showed that they know which number they should call when there is a medical emergency. They also learned about the difference between a heart attack and a cardiac arrest and what symptoms to look out for in each.
Heart attack symptoms include chest pains, person is awake (responsive), feeling nauseous (can be sick) and fingers, nose, lips and toes can lose colour.
Cardiac arrest symptoms include the person suddenly collapsing, being unresponsive, having a difference in breathing (occluded breathing) and they may have a seizure.
The children used the acronym DRSABCD to learn how to respond if they see someone who may have suffered a heart attack or a cardiac arrest.
This stands for:
Danger – check for dangers before approaching the person
Response – call to the person and see if they are responsive
Shout – shout for help
Airways – head tilt, chin lift
Breathing – look for chest movement, listen for noises associated with breathing
Compressions – begin chest compressions
Defibrillator
The session finished with the children receiving a demonstration on how to use a defibrillator.