Irish rugby star Diarmuid Barron has revealed how the death of a young cousin from heart disease inspired him to learn life-saving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills.

Irish rugby star Diarmuid Barron has revealed how the death of a young cousin from heart disease inspired him to learn life-saving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills.

Barron (25) who has been announced as an Irish Heart Foundation Ambassador, was speaking after being trained in CPR by secondary school students at Hazelwood College, Dromcollogher, Co Limerick, when he was presenting them with a CPR 4 Schools Special Recognition Award, as part of the Irish Heart Foundation’s CPR 4 Schools programme.

The programme, for post-primary schools across Ireland aims to train the next generation of lifesavers so they can respond swiftly and effectively in a cardiac emergency.

Barron, who recently helped Munster to win the United Rugby Championship in South Africa, said he knows from personal experience the devastating impact cardiovascular disease can have on lives.

Before completing his Irish Heart Foundation course, Barron admitted he was a CPR novice.

But thanks to the training, the Munster hooker can now recognise the signs of a cardiac arrest and knows what to do to help save someone’s life before the emergency services arrive.

“The transition year students taught me the correct way to approach a possible cardiac arrest situation, which is to ensure the area is safe, call 112 or 999 stating your location’s Eircode, press hard and fast in the centre of the chest and get someone to find the nearest AED,” Barron, from Cashel, Co Tipperary, said.

Michelle Herbert, who survived a cardiac arrest in 2016 and made a complete recovery thanks to effective CPR and the use of an AED, is a Teacher in Hazelwood College and has implemented the CPR 4 Schools Programme.

“By learning this skill, you can make a real difference in someone’s life, you can give that person a better chance of life. It really is a life-saving skill that all schools should teach.”

Barron added that he feels “very proud” to have been asked to join the Irish Heart Foundation as an Ambassador.

“The Irish Heart Foundation is there for people who need help, to support them when they leave hospital after a heart event or stroke or are worried about heart health,” he said.

“Heart health is crucial and the resources available from the Irish Heart Foundation can make a difference.”

Thanks to the charity, students and teachers in the vast majority (86%) of second-level schools across Ireland now know how to perform CPR, how to use an AED and what to do when someone is choking.

Katherine Scott, Acting Children & Young People Programme Manager with the Irish Heart Foundation, said “Over 70% of cardiac arrests take place in the home – schools are ideal places to educate young people in CPR to help reduce incidences of death from cardiac arrest.

“We would like to train more post-primary schools and are encouraging teachers to attend our upcoming free training courses.”

If you are a teacher and are interested in bringing the CPR 4 Schools Programme to your school, please contact schools@irishheart.ie. For more information about CPR 4 Schools, visit https://irishheart.ie/cpr4schools