As a specialist pool safety net company, Nets for Africa holds pool safety close to its heart. We always observe the National Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Week by reflecting on the importance of being trained in CPR and how knowing what to do in times of crisis can save someone’s life.
Regrettably, we often hear reports of children who have either drowned or survived a near-drowning experience. If a pool safety net is correctly installed and fitted to a pool, there is a 100% safety record.
The pool safety net has been called the “layer zero” in pool safety because it removes water from the equation. But if that so-called layer zero is not in place, what steps can you take to prevent a child from drowning?
The answer is CPR.
CPR is an emergency procedure. According to the Department of Health, CPR is performed in an effort to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing in a person who is in cardiac arrest.
A number of year ago, the best practice for CPR training was to remember your A-B-Cs; that is the CPR sequence was Airway-Breathing-Compressions.
However, according to the American Heart Association, the focus nowadays on explaining CPR is using C-A-B:
- hard compression of the chest
- tilting back the head to clear the airway
- breathing, giving mouth-to-mouth rescue breaths
The Resuscitation Council of Southern Africa offers courses in CPR for members of the public, family members, relatives and friends of adults and children at risk for sudden death.
It is ideal for laypersons with no prior medical knowledge who want to learn life-saving rescue skills for their loved ones.
All of our installers and staff have completed a Level One First Aid course and received their qualifications from the Human Emergency Life Programme. We encourage you to do your qualification.
Reginald Wesi receives his certificate from Nets for Africa operations manager Isak Loots
