Kota Samarahan, Thursday, 20 March 2025 – One of the most important skills we can equip our children with is CPR—cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Children as young as 4 years old can learn the basics of recognising emergencies, calling for help, and being aware of the use of CPR in medical emergencies. By 10 to 12 years old, children may be able to perform effective chest compressions on training manikins.
Children who receive training in CPR, or even just awareness of it, often exhibit greater confidence and care for their surroundings. Familiarity with what to do—such as when someone collapses on the road—empowers them to act without hesitation. This reduces the bystander effect and increases the likelihood that treatment is given within the “golden hour,” potentially improving the victim’s outcome.
Such an outcome was what Dr. Madiah hoped for as she co-facilitated Ms. Ayca in a fun-filled, kid-focused workshop called “Selamatkan Nyawa: Bengkel CPR untuk Kanak-kanak” held at Pusat Pengajian KAFA Integrasi Assyakirin in Kota Samarahan on Thursday, 20 March 2025.
Dr. Madiah is UNIMAS’s Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) candidate, and Ms. Ayca is a certified Basic Life Support (BLS) instructor under the NGO First Aid For All and currently a third-year medical student from Germany.
Armed with CPR manikins, the two-and-a-half-hour afternoon session was engaging and interactive, as children between the ages of 7 and 11 learnt basic emergency response skills and were coached on how to make emergency telephone calls.
The facilitators taught the children the mnemonic 3C, which stands for check, call, and CPR. The 3C is a simplified and essential step-by-step guide for layperson, including children and first-time responders, to follow when they witness a medical emergency
Everyone had the chance to perform chest compressions on the CPR manikin and realised that it was not an easy task as it can be physically demanding.
Dr. Madiah expressed hope that the knowledge shared would have a lasting impact, “I hope our children gain new knowledge and exposure to the basics of emergency aid through CPR.”
Owner of KAFA Assyakirin, Madam Adillah, who hosted the event at the school, praised the children’s eagerness to learn and their potential to act as informed bystanders during emergencies. “I hope the children gained new knowledge today. They are very observant. Even if they are not the ones performing the rescue, with the knowledge they’ve received, they will know what to do when faced with an emergency at home.”
Contrary to popular belief, studies have found that children are, in fact, highly motivated to learn life-saving skills and often spread that knowledge to those around them.
She later shared a touching anecdote from one parent, “One mother told me her child went straight home and demonstrated what they learnt to the family. Praise be to God.”
The children returned home equipped with a new sense of awareness and responsibility. It is hoped that parents will continue the conversation at home, reviewing what their children have learnt and even learning CPR for themselves.
As the adage goes, “it takes a village to raise a child.” Schools and communities continue to play a crucial role in fostering a generation that is not only caring but also capable of taking action in critical situations. HH
