Royal students learn to Restart A Heart
View(s):Royal College Colombo held its annual First Aid Workshop last week.
Dr Manola Nanayakkara from the Royal College Doctors Association and Dr Champika Abeysinghe from the College of Anesthesiologists led a session for 180 students, respectively covering various first aid scenarios and providing instructions on performing CPR effectively.
Brothers Kamith and Ruchith Ranasinghe shared their story of saving their father’s life, underscoring the importance of basic first aid knowledge learned in school.
“We were given the training and basic first aid knowledge and lifesaving skills from school, and it came in our favour when we had to save our father’s life last year when he got a cardiac arrest at home,” Kamith told the Sunday Times. “Myself and my brother gave CPR for half an hour and we saved his life,” he said.
-
- Dr Champika Abeysinghe (consultant in anaesthesia and intensive care) is seen conducting a Restart A Heart session for Royal College, Colombo students.The College’s Red Cross Society conducted a medical camp on July 30. Pix by Akila Jayawardena
Kamith explained that their training was instrumental when they arrived at the hospital emergency room, where there was a shortage of staff. “When we went to the Emergency Room in the hospital, there was a lack of staff as well, but since my brother and I were trained, we were able to assist the doctors there and to keep him under control,” Kamith said, while Ruchith added that their father was the only heart attack patient who survived that day.
“My father was also at the event because he is living proof of the importance of basic first aid knowledge,” Kamith added.
“First aid is something that is overlooked, I would say. People don’t take it seriously enough until it’s too late. Luckily my brother and I had enough and more exposure being a part of the Red Cross community since we were small in school,” Ruchith said.
Kamith who was a part of the Red Cross Society became the Chair of the Society in 2016, and Ruchith followed through, becoming the Chair in 2019.
“Even though you learn first aid, don’t forget it. Keep it in the back of your head. It’s a simple life skill. It will ultimately be of use to society,” the Ranasinghe brothers say.
- Dilushi Wijesinghe
HitAd.lk is the best and biggest mobile phone market in Sri Lanka, and we guarantee you will find what you need here from our extensive listing of mobile phones for sale in Sri Lanka. Whether it’s a budget-priced smartphone for communication, or higher end features with advanced connectivity, there are many different options from which to choose from on our site!