Gerry Hannam and his family are on a mission to save lives after an eye-opening CPR and defibrillator training course with Diving with Nic in Mijas Costa.
The hands-on session, led by highly trained and experienced instructors, has equipped the Hannam family with critical skills to respond to cardiac emergencies and, hopefully, will encourage others to do the same. The three-hour course is held at Diving with Nic’s training centre and combines practical training with a touch of dark humour to drive home the importance of quick action in life-or-death situations.
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Using specialised dolls that simulate emergency situations, Gerry and his family practised CPR and the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on specially prepared dolls. “It’s grim, but we try to make it engaging with a few dark jokes,” said Leo, one of the instructors, stressing the course’s focus on keeping people alive until emergency services arrive. Nic, a seasoned instructor, highlighted the real-world impact: “Just a week after Finca Naundrup took our course, they saved a life using CPR and an AED.”
Nic stressed their focus on CPR and AED use over the more comprehensive first aid courses, saying that these days people often rely on hospitals for less important injuries, while their course focuses on much more vital “keeping the patient alive until the ambulance arrives.” As well, he talked of the importance of refresher courses for those who already have the certification. “In emergencies, shock can make you freeze,” he said, emphasising the need for the skills learnt to become second nature.
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Nic recounted a case where his insistence on a swift ambulance response saved a woman who had suffered a stroke, initially mistaken for drunkenness by emergency services. “Northern Europeans tend to be too polite when calling 112. You have to insist when someone’s unresponsive.” The course also covered how to deal with Spain’s emergency response system, where ambulances can be delayed, especially in rural areas or urbanisations like Calahonda. Leo stresses the stakes:“With cardiac arrest, survival chances are low, but every second counts. Who do you spend the most time with? Your family, friends, and co-workers – they’re the ones you could save.”
Inspired by their training, Gerry and his wife Jenny decided to take the course and are encouraging others to do the same. Shocked to find many are unaware of AEDs’ importance, they began identifying gaps in coverage throughout Sitio de Calahonda. “It doesn’t just happen to the elderly – it could be a child,” Jenny said. Their research revealed that only a few locations, like Oxygen Gym, Club, and Finca Naundrup (with three AEDs and two lives already saved), are equipped. To address this, the family is targeting strategic locations for new defibrillators.
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To fund their initiative to get more AEDs installed, Gerry and Jenny are organising community events, starting with a September fundraiser featuring singer Ben James, followed by a major November event with Ricky Lavazza and Ben James. Their urgency is backed by stark statistics: early CPR and defibrillation within 3-5 minutes can boost survival rates for cardiac arrest to 50-70 per cent, yet each minute’s delay cuts chances by 7-10 per cent. With out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates at just 10 per cent, their mission is critical.
Diving with Nic, which has delivered multiple courses and also offers e-learning refreshers to combat the shock-induced memory lapses Nic described. Their work in schools, Age Care, Finca Naundrup, and small-group sessions ensures practical, life-saving knowledge reaches communities that might one day need them.
Gerry and Jenny urge residents to join their campaign via the S.A.L. – Save a Life Facebook page, where updates on their efforts to install three new defibrillators in Calahonda are shared. “Do you know where your nearest defibrillator is?” Gerry asks. Thanks to their training with Diving with Nic, they’re ensuring more people in Mijas Costa will soon have an answer and a chance to save a life.
For more information on CPR and AED courses, contact Diving with Nic or visit their Mijas Costa training centre.
