Rangebank Primary School students (from left) Rachael, Rianna, Jade and Maddison with integration aide and first-aid course winner Pauline Kempf.
By Callan Date
PAULINE Kempf is relieved she will finally know what to do in a life or death situation.
The Rangebank Primary School integration aide works with prep-aged children and believes knowing CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is vital in her line of work.
Ms Kempf was one of 10 News readers who won a first-aid course from Lynex Health Care and Training Services.
CPR will be the main component of the course, with participants also taught what to do in emergency situations including broken bones, poisoning and burns.
Some of the young students under Ms Kempf’s care have a range of medical conditions, including epilepsy and autism, which can pose a greater need for first-aid attention.
“At the moment I wouldn’t know what to do if there was an emergency and there is always the worry of doing the wrong thing,” Ms Kempf said.
She said a few teachers at Rangebank Primary School had discussed the need to undertake first-aid courses because of their working environment.
“I think that all teachers should undergo some sort of first-aid training as part of their education, because when you are teaching 20 young children at once you just never know what could happen,” Ms Kempf said.
She said there was talk Rangebank Primary School was going to provide first-aid training for their teachers but nothing had been done yet.
The mother also expressed concern at not knowing what to do in the event of an emergency at home.
“I have two children and if they were to ever get in a situation where they needed quick help, I would want to know what to do,” she said.
Financial constraints were the main reason why Ms Kempf hadn’t previously pursued any first-aid training.
“I’ve always wanted to do a first-aid course and I’m extremely grateful for winning this prize and getting the opportunity,” she said.
