Hitting the road to save lives

Over the past four years, Cameron McFarlane has developed a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) awareness program targeting students in years 5 and 6.

“In that time I’ve educated more than 2500 students to develop their skills and knowledge in performing effective CPR,” Mr McFarlane said.

“I believe it is imperative every child be given the opportunity to learn this vital skill and have the knowledge to perform effective CPR, both around water and in the community, generally.”

Mr McFarlane has obtained sponsorship to help deliver the program, with his major support coming from the Royal Lifesaving Society (Coffs Harbour branch), with which he shares a goal – to help combat the increased statistics in death by drowning, through education.

“So far I have raised $11,000 in local sponsorship and I hope to raise another $8000 through the schools,” Mr McFarlane said.

From May 2 to June 10, Mr McFarlane will travel to 54 primary schools across the state, educating more than 5000 students in CPR skills, staying at 23 motels, with many motels waiving their fee as a donation to the campaign. 

“In the space of about two years, I’ve had to use CPR on five occasions,” he said.

“Fortunately, those five have come through and this is what’s motivated me. It’s such an effective, simple skill to pass on to kids before they get to high school, particularly as Australians are traditionally big water users.”

The sponsorship raised to date will pay Mr McFarlane’s costs on his way around the schools.

At the end of the campaign, Mr McFarlane plans to donate several thousands of dollars to the Royal Lifesaving Society and the Samuel Morris Foundation. 

The foundation, established in March 2007, is Australia’s first charity providing support services to children disabled by non-fatal drowning (or other hypoxic brain injuries), supporting their families, and preventing future drowning deaths and disabilities, through drowning prevention education and awareness.