Child Health Services
School Nursing and the Clinical Education Centre planned an initiative on Restart a Heart Day, in
October 2019.
The School Nursing Team organised an event in post primary Bangor Grammar School in the
South Eastern HSC Trust, the aim of which was twofold. Firstly, to demonstrate the essential
lifesaving skills of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and secondly to raise the profile of men in
nursing.
The Bangor Grammar School pupils joined other people around the world who came together to
increase public awareness and response to cardiac arrests and the number of people trained in
life saving skills.
The purpose of the day was to help improve the low numbers of people who survive cardiac arrest
outside of hospital. The interactive demonstration took place with 20 pupils who were given the
opportunity to practice the essential skills on manikins.
Director of Nursing, Nicki Patterson opened the event to show her support and reiterate the
importance of these skills. Nicki also encouraged the pupils in the school to consider a career in
nursing and many of the boys present did say that nursing is something that they would consider
as a career. A fun day was had by all and the participants all came away with the initial skills
needed to respond to a cardiac arrest.
Vice-Principal, Stephen Robinson worked in partnership with the School Nursing Team Lead Nurse,
Deirdre Ward, School Nurse Co-ordinator and Susan Henderson, Clinical Co-ordinator for School
Health to organise this event.
The event was supported by Julia Lewis, Assistant Director; Marie Mahoney, School Nurse; Ross
Mawhinney, Health Visitor; Senior Practitioner, Russell Erskine, ADHD/ASD and Paula Morton,
CEC Education Consultant.
Restart a Heart
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