THE MALTA RESUSCITATION COUNCIL PRESENTS THE BOOK “CALL 112 FIBRILLU” TO THE MINISTER OF EDUCATION AS PART OF ITS CAMPAIGN TO INTRODUCE CPR TRAINING IN FORMAL EDUCATION.
The Malta Resuscitation Council has today presented a copy of the illustrated animation book “CALL 112 FIBRILLU” to the Hon. Minister Dr. Clifton Grima, in its efforts to facilitate access to educational material for school children on how to promptly recognize when a person stops breathing, how to summon help and how to buy time by doing effective chest compressions.
The book presents the story of Katrina and Fibrillu, who during an outing in the Capital come across a person who feels unwell and their successful actions to save a life. The publication carries both Maltese and English versions and is illustrated in a way to offer a simple, stepwise approach to basic life support skills.
The project was the brainchild of Dr. Velitchka Schembri Agius, herself a resuscitation trainer and member of the Resuscitation Council, who authored the writing while supported by Mr. Clyde Haber who did the illustration. The publication was sponsored by the Malta Resuscitation Council.
CALL 112 FIBRILLU will be available in printed and digital format on all educational tablets in schools and is meant to be a supporting tool to the exceptional work being done by the Health and Safety Unit at the Education Department. Members of this Unit have qualified as resuscitation instructors themselves and embarked on a project to instruct both teachers and Year 8 students across all public Colleges. During this scholastic year, 2622 middle school children have been trained as well as 1133 teachers. The Malta Resuscitation Council commended strengthening the Health and Safety Unit with more Human Resources while pledging to its support in expertise and equipment.
Achievements to date
The Malta Resuscitation Council has trained and supported the Health and Safety Unit with the Education Department to deliver CPR training in schools.
· All schools equipped with an AED
· 9 schools received training in Yr 22/23
· 54 schools projected to be reached in 2024
The Malta Resuscitation Council mentioned once more highlighted that the time is ripe to introduce basic-life support training in the National Curriculum.
Despite Malta’s short distance to hospital and highly developed health system, survival rates from cardiac arrest witnessed by bystanders remains below average. Locally 71% of cardiac arrests are witnessed by laypersons. In 2016-17, bystander CPR occurred in just 40% of cardiac arrests and the overall survival to discharge from hospital was only 5%.
Survival can increase to 40% with prompt bystander recognition and initiation of high-quality chest compressions and to 60% if shock is delivered using an AED when indicated. In countries where basic life support is taught in schools, survival rates are two to three times higher.
“Having CPR training enshrined into the National Curriculum will guarantee Malta with generations of life-savers empowered to act promptly wherever and whenever a cardiac arrest hits, driving survival rates up."
-Malta Resuscitation Council “
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