Keiran's Legacy volunteers at Milne's High School to deliver life-saving training as sessions resume after pandemic halt
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A LOCAL life-saving charity's volunteers were back in action today at their first school training day since the pandemic forced sessions to halt early last year.
A team from Keiran's Legacy visited Milne's High School, in Fochabers, to run CPR and defibrillator training sessions with sixth-year pupils.
The charity was established by Sandra and Gordon McKandie in the wake of a road accident which claimed the life of their only son, keen cyclist Keiran, on March 20, 2016. The Elgin Academy pupil was 16.
As well as distributing defibrillators around the north-east, its volunteers educate and train people on how to save lives.
The pupils heard a talk about Keiran and the charity before five volunteers held hands-on, practical training.
New volunteer Sheila Archibald said: "The pupils were taught basic life support, what to do if they find someone who is non-responsive and not breathing.
"They were shown how to start CPR, how to put the defibrillator on and how to use the defibrillator, and what they should do until help arrives.
"We also went through what to do if someone is choking and the recovery position."
Fellow volunteer Alison Collins said they talked about footballer Christian Eriksen, who collapsed during the Finland v Denmark game on June 12. The quick-thinking actions of his team-mates, the availability of a defibrillator and effective CPR by the medical staff saved the player.
Alison said: "Footballer Christian Eriksen was in the right place at the right time. If his cardiac arrest had happened in his back garden he might not have survived.
"Keiran's Legacy is about trying to turn something devastating into something really positive.
"I guess the question at the end is do these kids feel confident to use defibrillators? And they do. So it's amazing that because of this input today they would know what to do."
The charity's defibrillators have now saved seven to eight lives in the north-east.
Keiran's charity has distributed 84 defibrillators to north-east communities and schools – each costing between £1700-£1800 including installation. It has also provided 16 defibrillators to police fast-response vehicles.
S6 pupil Alannah Parnaby thanked the training team on behalf of all the pupils. She said: "I found it very helpful. I think now that if something did happen I feel very confident I could do everything in my power to help save a life."
Sandra said the charity welcomed new volunteers to assist in its mission to save lives.
She added that the charity will be providing a defibrillator to Elgin Sports Community Trust for the new multi-sports facility at Lesser Borough Briggs, which is expected to open late this summer.
