Hospital da Luz Póvoa de Varzim is taking a tour through schools in the area it had already offered automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to, in the context of the project ‘ Para uma escola mais segura – Juntos vamos salvar vidas ’ (“For a safer school – Let’s save lives together”). During this tour, with the goal of checking the condition of the equipment and refresh the staff knowledge on basic life support maneuvers (BLS), the Hospital is also offering airway clearance devices to be used in choking cases. This project encompasses the following establishments: Colégio de Amorim; Escola Secundária Eça de Queirós; Escola Secundária Rocha Peixoto; Colégio do Forte (in Vila do Conde). The Hospital da Luz Póvoa de Varzim started this tour cycle last September 25, in school Escola Secundária Rocha Peixoto. There, it started by assessing the usage of the automated external defibrillator and verifying the validity and operability of the equipment. A knowledge updating workshop was also hold for the school members involved in the project, who had the opportunity to retrain basic life support maneuvers with AED in manikins. This time, after remembering the procedures in the rescue of a choking victim (Heimlich maneuver, which consists in back blows and abdominal thrusts), the school members learned how to use a LifeVac device offered by the Hospital and which can be used complementarily. The LifeVac helps to quickly and safely clear airway obstruction of a victim in risk of choking (and consequently of cardiorespiratory arrest). Cardiorespiratory arrest is one of the major causes of death worldwide. The training in BLS and the AEDs offered and now also the LifeVac devices, are a valuable addition for these schools, since they are now equipped to deal with situations of sudden cardiorespiratory arrest. Therefore, this is one of those initiatives near the community that Hospital da Luz Póvoa de Varzim is most committed in, deserving the utmost attention and dedication of its health professionals. Hospital da Luz Póvoa de Varzim expresses its gratitude to everyone – school elements and health professionals – for their work and collaboration in this project. Whenever the community asks, we are there!
