Last week, the school hall at SIS Zürich-Wollishofen was used for something a little different. Instead of regular lessons, teachers and staff took part in a Basic Life Support (BLS) refresher course. The purpose of the day was clear: to ensure that everyone is prepared to respond quickly and correctly in an emergency.
What the course covers
A BLS refresher course reviews the steps needed to respond to an emergency, whether in a school setting or elsewhere. The course lasted four hours and is mandatory every two years. For many participants, this was a refresher course, while for some it was their first time learning these life-saving skills. They practised CPR for both children and adults, using mannequins and an AED (automated external defibrillator) to simulate real-life scenarios.
Getting into action
The session began with simple but important questions from the instructor:
What would you do if someone collapsed?
How do you check for breathing?
When should you call for help?
These questions encouraged participants to think through the situation step by step before moving into hands-on exercises. They worked in small groups, gathered around the mannequins, practising chest compressions and learning the correct technique and rhythm. The instructor moved between the groups, offering guidance. One useful and memorable tip was to hum “Stayin’ Alive” to maintain the correct compression rhythm.
Key steps in an emergency
The course also reviewed the key BLS steps, summarised by the DRSABC acronym:
Danger
Response
Shout for help
Airway
Breathing
Circulation / CPR
Important numbers to remember
144 – Ambulance
117 – Police
118 – Fire department
112 – European emergency number
Leaving with confidence
While everyone hopes they never have to use these skills in a real emergency, the refresher course left staff feeling more confident and better prepared. Knowing how to respond quickly can make all the difference, and this course was a powerful reminder of just how important it is to be ready.
Author: Kim Martinez, Teacher at SIS Zürich-Wollishofen