Glasgow students turn teachers
Awareness day sees undergraduates spread the message about resuscitation
A group of Glasgow dental students took the resuscitation message to heart recently when they set up shop at the Glasgow Science Centre.
The third and fourth-year students were taking part in European Restart a Heart Day on 16 October and put all their medical emergency and basic life-support training to good use, talking to the public and teaching them valuable lifesaving skills.
Supported by tutors Lezley Ann Walker and Liz Webster from Glasgow Dental School, the students spoke to hundreds of children and adults, with more than 175 taking part in a life-support taster session from the students.
Fourth-year student Jayne Paterson said that changing from pupil to teacher at the event was a great experience, and it also helped her remember her training. She said: “It is completely different, but I have found that it helps to cement it in your mind. I don’t think I’ll ever forget 30 compressions to two breaths because we have been repeating it over and over today. It actually makes it easier to learn if you are teaching it yourself.”
Dental team tutor Lezley Ann said: “This event has been such a good teaching tool for the undergraduates. The repetition is wonderful revision for them and it also gives them the experience in the role of teacher. This enhances their skills, particularly communication, and gives them confidence in their ability, dealing with large numbers of the general public of all ages at the one time.”
As well as stressing the importance of basic CPR and resuscitation techniques, they also demonstrated how to use automatic external defibrillators to many of the adults present.
Lezley Ann said: “We had a guy who trains kids’ football and they were donated a defibrillator, but only a couple of coaches were taught how to use it – and one has now left. He was concerned about this and after talking to us is now considering speaking to the committee to get everyone trained, including the children. So, we had an impact there that could potentially save a life later on.”
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