A Co Armagh mum who lost her son in a road-traffic collision last month has pleaded with young people to sign up for free first aid courses set to be held in the coming weeks.
Lisa Morrison, speaking to Armagh I, says more people need to learn first aid skills, after friends tried to help her son by performing CPR on the night of his death.
Her son Keith (22) passed away, alongside friends Emma Mallon, Marina Crilly and Philip Mitchell, when their Volkswagen Golf collided with a tree on the Ballynahonemore Road in Armagh in the early hours of Sunday, March 24.
Keith, a son of Alwyn and Lisa, and dear brother to Denise, Georgina, Emily and Melanie, lived at Breaghey Road in Tynan.
The Morrison family have decided to organise the first aid awareness sessions in memory of all four victims, with the first to be held on Tuesday, April 23 – on what would have been Keith’s 23rd birthday.
Due to demand, a second will also be held on May 22, with both sessions taking place in the Epicentre in Armagh from 6pm to 10pm on the respective dates.
The courses will be led by Keith’s stepmother Christine Wright, who herself works for the NI Ambulance Service, and supported and delivered by Avonmore Training Solutions Ltd. The second session is sponsored by local company Casey Ltd.
The sessions will deal with areas of first aid such as; CPR, AED (defibrillator), recovery position, choking and seizures.
Those under the age of 18 looking to attend must be accompanied by an adult.
Said Lisa: “We wanted to do something in memory of them. The more people that have this training the better. There’ll be better outcomes if more people have the training.
“We’re trying to get as many young ones as possible to get their CPR. Emma Mallon was a first aider herself and it just helps out that wee bit more.”
She added: “It’s just the two sessions at the minute, but if we can get more young people interested in it there could possibly be a third one. The certificate lasts a year so we’re hoping to do refresher courses in the future as well.
“This is good news. It’s about putting something back into the community.”
Georgina Morrison, Keith’s sister, added: “Not many people know how to do CPR. If something happens right in front of them they won’t know what to do, but if they have the training they can help out wherever they can.”
Those wishing to take part in the first aid awareness sessions are asked to contact Christine Wright on 07510 599197.
