Barry Comprehensive School

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PSE lessons at Barry Comprehensive have become very practical during June and July, with pupils from year 7 to year 12 taking on the challenge of practicing emergency life support techniques.

Anyone listening to the proceedings might have thought the pupils were training for ‘Last Choir Standing’ as the tune of ‘Nellie the Elephant’ floated out of the gym, the hall, the drama studio or anywhere else that zealous PSE staff could find the space for large groups of pupils and their fifteen manikins. The singing is an effective way of timing the 30 chest compressions needed between the two rescue breaths.

Heartstart UK is an initiative coordinated by the British Heart Foundation to teach members of the public what to do in a life threatening emergency. The Heartstart UK schools programme provides an opportunity for children to learn simple emergency life support skills. Mr. Bill Jones, trained first-aider at Barry Comprehensive, generously gave up a lot of his spare time to work with the PSE staff.

Emergency life support is distinct from first aid in the fact that it is a set of actions needed to keep someone alive in an emergency until professional help arrives. Pupils now understand that their immediate actions can buy victims valuable time and they can be an essential first link in the chain of survival.

• Over 270,00 people in the UK suffer heart attack each year
• About 30% of them die
• About 70% of cardiac arrest happen out-of hospital

Emergency life support skills can be used in a wide range of emergency situations, from bleeding to cardiac arrest. A wide range of pupils at Barry Comprehensive have now been trained to act logically in a life threatening situation. They also understand that they can be just as responsible and active as an adult; that can really make a difference. So here’s to Nellie the Elephant as she packs her trunk … (“That’s elephants, not greyhounds, year 12!’ – Mr. Jones’ essential advice).

Lifesavers and manikins in the Gym

Thomas Adams prepares to save a 'life'

Trey Tobin and Andrew Gill working in the Gym

Joish Davidson showing great technique

Mitchell Parker in the recovery position being
checked on by James Goodman