Heart of Foyle shares life-saving skills with Derry schoolchildren

Heart of Foyle Community First Responders is an organisation made of up entirely of volunteers from all walks of life and works with Northern Ireland Ambulance Service paramedics to assist during emergency call outs.

The volunteers work as emergency responders and can assist until an ambulance arrive in specific instances such as emergencies involving people experiencingsuspected heart attacks, chest pains, breathing difficulties, epilepsy and seizure activity.

The organisation was founded by a local man whose father took a heart attack while they were travelling together in a car. A passing nurse who chanced upon the scene was able to assist them at the roadside, and this led to the man setting up the charity himself.

Over recent weeks, the charity has been visiting numerous primary schools in the Derry area to educate P7 pupils, and some P6 students, about the work they do and to deliver free practical, age-appropriate sessions on what they can do in a medical emergency.

Speaking about the initiative, Heart of Foyle Volunteer Seán Coyle said: "We built this around International Restart a Heart Day which was on October 16, and that's why we were going around the schools to promote basic life support, to tell them what it is, to recognise symptoms, what to do in an emergency, so they know who to call, and what to say in terms of the information to give.

"It is a good thing for the children. They all enjoyed it and got a lot out of it. They were all brilliant. We were telling them this is a skill you can carry through life.

"We explained to the children what we do - that we would link in with NI Ambulance Service and that we would get a text message if there was anyone with any heart problems, and how there are 25 of us altogether and we all come from different backgrounds - I work in the hospital, another volunteer is a trainer, you have taxi drivers, some ambulance service personnel, people who work in Seagate, all different walks of life. We explained that we meet every Tuesday night and gave them a bit of background.

"The main thing for us was teaching them 'Dr's ABC' ('DRSABC'). We explained this was an abbreviation of six words and each one means something."

The volunteer teams from Heart of Foyle broke this down and explained an emergency scenario where it would be applicable, with 'D' standing for Danger, 'R' for Response (from the person) and how to check that, 'S' for Shout (for help), 'A' for Airways (checking someone's mouth for obstruction, head tilt and chin lift to open airways) 'B' for Breathing( and the different ways to check someone is breathing), C for CPR/ Compressions - and making sure they have phoned an ambulance on 999 and someone is coming to help before starting compressions and so the operator can help by giving them expert advice.

"Then we take them through chest compressions, we explain to them how to do that and why, and what it does. We got them to work in pairs then. The children were practising on mannequins and one schools asked them to bring in teddy bears to practise on first, which was brilliant.

"We are very conscious of using words appropriate to them and making sure they know that this is not a scary thing to do. We were explaining to them that it is such a vital thing you can do, and the more someone can do for the person the better chance they have of making a good recovery."

Among the primary schools visited by Heart of Foyle were St Patrick's, Steelstown, Greenhaw, St Paul's, St Eithne's, with plans in place to visit a secondary school as well. The feedback from the schools visited so far has been amazing.

"The schools were very pleased and all very receptive, and some of them want us to come back and offer this to staff," Seán said.

"It's a great thing for the children to learn and as long as we can, we are going to promote it."

Any other school in Derry or the wider area who would like to have Heart of Foyle come visit can contact lead trainer John Porter, trainer via [email protected] and anyone wishing to inquire about volunteering in the future or fundraising can also contact the organisation via the ‘Heart Of Foyle Community First Responders,Derry’ Facebook page, or visit the Heart of Foyle hub within the Skeoge premises of St John's Ambulance, who have been "amazing" in supporting Heart of Foyle and allowing them to utilise part of their facility as a base.