STARÝ SMOKOVEC (August 1, 2023) A unique possibility to try how to save a human life with cardiac massage and artificial respiration was offered to visitors coming to the High Tatras by the Zvedavé svište (Curious marmots) civic organisation. Children were the main instructors supervised by adult paramedics.
The civic organisation pitched its tent at the lower station of the Hrebienok funicular in Starý Smokovec and tourists passing could try how to save a life by using a special resuscitation manikin which monitored the quality of the resuscitation process. Children from a day camp were the main instructors there and invited people on the way to the mountains to try it to be able to provide first aid in future if needed.
“Our children had already been trained and now passed the knowledge to others. People usually learn basic life-saving skills at various official courses e.g. in driving schools etc. There are not many chances to try it in public like this. That’s why we have come up with this idea and could make it happen thanks to the “For a better life” grant programme in the town of Vysoké Tatry. I think children introducing the rescuing activities is the biggest advantage because they perceive everything fully differently than adults. They can explain it in a much warmer and better way and be very authentic,” said Elena Dolinková from the kindergarten in Nový Smokovec and the Zvedavé svište civic organisation.
Children would like to instruct visitors on the same in other localities in the High Tatras too – in Hrebienok and Tatranská Lomnica.
“The uninhibited nature of children helps overcome any barriers, which was obvious in how the kids addressed families passing by. People really joined us and tried how to perform cardiac massage and artificial respiration. Children learn by teaching it and visitors who come to the High Tatras can learn it too. It was a great idea and that’s why we supported this project of the civic organisation and the kindergarten,” informed Dušan Slavkovský, the general manager of the Vysoké Tatry mountain resort.
The resuscitation training project including purchasing of a special manikin with a resuscitation quality monitor was implemented by the Zvedavé svište civic organisation and supported by the grant programme of the TMR company and the Vysoké Tatry mountain resort known as “For a better life in the town of Vysoké Tatry”.