Image source: Department of Education, Open Government Licence v3.0
Northern Ireland’s Department of Education (DoE) has launched a Community of Lifesavers App to help young people develop skills in delivering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and using automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
It said the app complements the Community of Lifesavers Education Programme in schools, which provides professional learning of CPR and AED skills.
The app includes survivors’ stories, interactive quizzes, enhancement of CPR and AED skills and a skill refresh function.
It has been developed by the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service with DoE funding, and is free to download from the App Store and Google Play.
Impact on survival rates
Education Minister Paul Givan said: “CPR and AED are critical and potentially lifesaving skills. We know that providing CPR and AED training using the app and within the school curriculum can have a clear and measurable impact on survival rates.
“The app is free, interactive and easily accessible and aims to build children and young people’s confidence in developing vital CPR and AED lifesaving skills.”
Gerry Campbell, chief executive of CCEA, said: “This app provides opportunities through a digital platform to reinforce knowledge and skills already learnt in schools at Key Stage 3, enabling students to access this information at any time, in a format that suits them.
“We hope that the Community of Lifesavers app helps many young people and their families to learn these vital skills now and in the future.”
