School staff learn how to save lives
St Mary's College teachers, Dee Ryan, Tim Hicks, Angela Flynn and Valerie Power along with their students training to use defibrilators.
Wednesday February 03 2010
STAFF MEMBERS at St, Mary's College undertook a training course which will help to saves lives.
The volunteers were trained in the use of the school's new heart defibrillator by Rob Roe of Heart Safety Ireland at the event which was organised by Ms. D. Ryan.
St. Mary's College was fortunate enough to receive the device as a result of a fundraising project undertaken by last year's TY students.
As part of their Young Social Innovators Project 'It's Your Life' Katie Walsh, Megan Gilroy, Amy Cody, Karen Hempenstall, Eimear De Courcy, Aoife Redmond, Georgina Stapleton, Laura Carey and Kim Sweeney ran fundraising events with a view to purchasing a device.
The girls raised €2014 by organising a variety of activities including; a Valentine's cake sale, a Red Day, during which all students wore an item of red clothing to school, and a sponsored walk from Gorey to Arklow led by Ms. C.Timmons, Ms. M.O Donnell, and Mr. K. Barron. Young Social Innovators aims to get 15 to 18 year olds involved in actions which help to improve the lives of others in their community.
With 6,400 cardiac arrests happening in this country per year, the need for defibrillators and people trained in administering defibrillation is crucial for the survival of cardiac arrest victims. Ms. Claire Timmons coordinated the YSI Project.
