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Water park visitors learned to save lives

Massaging the heart, pulling a drowning person out of water, treating a severely bleeding wound. The last weekend in August visitors to Prague's water park learned these and other skills which may help to save the life of a loved one.

The first aid weekend was organized for the general public in Aquapalace Prague in Čestlice by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, together with the Czech Red Cross. "Although first aid is taught in elementary school, it never hurts to brush up on skills. The worst scenario is when a person does not provide first aid out of fear. Looking around and hoping that someone else will do it for us may cost a human life. For example, seconds are crucial following a cardiac arrest and every minute of ‘doing nothing’ reduces the patient's chances of survival by 10%," said Eva Bernatová, co-ordinator of first aid courses for the Czech Red Cross.

People learn the fundamentals of first aid provision from childhood, yet a number of myths still remain. One of them is cushioning the head so that the victim can lie more comfortably. "If a person is unconscious, a pillow under their head could be harmful, because there is a risk of airway closure. A similar myth is pulling the unconscious person‘s tongue out; they may bite you and there is a danger of vomiting," Bernatová describes the most common mistakes when providing first aid.
"Surveys show that just 5% of the population would be able to properly administer first aid. Therefore, we consider it important to provide people with information about competent life-saving. These skills must be constantly repeated and practised and the water park is the perfect place to simulate a rescue. If left to their own devices, people may have a go but may not necessarily use the right intervention. It’s therefore important for people to be shown the correct procedures and for these to be remembered,’ said Lenka Kaška, spokesperson for Pfizer.

People could try practical first aid training over tle last weekend in August at two of the water park’s sites. Visitors could watch first aid demonstrations by Czech Red Cross professionals at two-hour intervals. They have also demonstrated how to pull a drowning person out of water. In addition, a fun competition have been running for visitors every hour.

Contact for media:
Mgr. Markéta Pudilová, marketa.pudilova@mhw.cz, 00420 736 487 837