MANDY SMITH There was heavy breathing, chest pumping and a lot of giggling yesterday as 100 Hastings Girls' High School pupils had a dummy run in CPR (cardio pulmonary resuscitation). The school was one of 10 nationwide involved in St John Ambulance's campaign to train 1000 senior pupils in one day. StJohn first-aid tutor Kathie Benson said about 1000 New Zealanders went into cardiac arrest away from hospitals each year and only 8 per cent survived. "It makes sense that if more people know CPR, more will be saved," she said. After watching a DVD, the girls blew up inflatable mannequins. They learned to check if a person was breathing and to call for help before doing CPR cycles of 30 rapid chest compressions followed by two breaths. Year-13 pupils Casey Greville and Alex Hutchinson, both 17, missed a free period to attend the ASB Bank-funded session, but were glad to now have the skills to save a life. The chest compressions were tiring, and it was a bit embarrassing breathing into a doll in front of friends, Casey said. "I know what I need to do now but it'd be scary having to do it on an actual person." ASB Bank will fund training for a further 10,000 people during the next six months. The St John Appeal Week starts on Sunday.
