Every year, during the month of November, The Resuscitation Council of Southern Africa (RCSA) strive to foster and encourage the practice and teaching of resuscitation as well as promote new techniques of performing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Enpower Training Services, which offers a range of security and health training programs, is registered with the RCSA. The training centre is the training division of Excellerate Security (previously known as Enforce Security).This year, Enpower Training Services hosted a CPR demonstration program at Le Domaine residential estate where a demonstration was given to residents on how to perform CPR.Members of the Excellerate Security team deployed at the estate were present during the demonstration and participated in the different CPR demonstrations performed on adult, children and infant training manikins.Academics Manager at the training centre, Zaheer Abdoola said that being registered with the RCSA involves promoting CPR demonstrations to the general public every year. "The purpose is to spread the knowledge and skill of CPR, so that when an emergency occurs people can assist. The greatest importance is that it increases the chances for survival for someone that suffers a heart attack or for someone that becomes unconscious and their breathing stops," said Abdoola.Being skilled in the techniques of performing CPR can be beneficial, bearing in mind that when a person who is not receiving oxygen or proper blood circulation will receive brain damage within 6 minutes of breathing being stopped. In some cases, it may take an ambulance longer to arrive at an emergency scene."Anyone can be a victim of heart attack or any other emergency situation at any time and having such skills will enable a person to save the affected person rather than standing around and waiting for an ambulance," said Abdoola.Managing Director at Excellerate Security, Derek Lategan said that the Security staff's presence at the demonstration could be beneficial to residents. "Emergencies occur at any time so knowing that you are equipped with the skills to stabilise a person until medical help arrives, is invaluable" said Lategan.Attendees were also shown the relevant steps to follow when performing "hands only" CPR, the CPR practice which does not involve giving "mouth to mouth". Hands only CPR allows for blood circulation to the brain and other vital organs. When the heart stops working, blood that remains in the heart still has oxygen in it therefore performing hands only CPR allows for circulation to take place thus keeping the person alive.
