CPR Skill Set sees student save a life

But thanks to the CPR Skill Set he completed during his studies, he helped save a man’s life.

Riley is currently studying a Certificate III in Sport Coaching (SIS30521) and Certificate III in Sport – Athlete (SIS30421) through TAFE Queensland’s Academy of Sport program, delivered in partnership with Queensland Cricket through TAFE at School.

As part of his training, Riley completed a CPR Skill Set (SSHLT0029), a short course designed to ensure people have the skills and confidence to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation in workplaces and the community.

At the time, Riley didn’t expect he would ever need to use those skills in a real emergency, until a man collapsed during a game of indoor cricket.

“I didn’t really think I’d ever use my CPR skills, but when that man fell to the ground, and he wasn’t breathing, and we couldn’t find a pulse, I knew I had to do something,” Riley said.

“An ambulance was called almost immediately, and help was called out around the centre.”

When someone asked if there was a doctor present, Riley hesitated for a moment.

“My initial thought was that I’m not a doctor, so I might not be able to help as much. But then the adrenaline took over, and I ran over and told them I had done a first aid course and started to assist,” he said.

Several people quickly worked together to help the man while waiting for paramedics to arrive.

“There were about five of us in total. One person was on the defibrillator, one person was doing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, and three of us rotated doing chest compressions,” Riley said.

Riley took on a leading role in the CPR effort, performing compressions and helping guide others through the process when they rotated in.

“I did the chest compressions and helped guide the others on how to do them properly when it was their turn to ensure we were consistent,” he said.

Because chest compressions are physically demanding, the group rotated through the role to maintain the intensity required – and their efforts paid off.

The man eventually became responsive, and the group placed him in the recovery position while waiting for paramedics to arrive.

“Once he was responsive, we turned him into the recovery position, and I supported his head until the ambulance arrived,” Riley said.

While the training helped Riley act quickly in the moment, the emotional impact hit him afterwards.

“Initially, I felt very overwhelmed and in shock, and for some time, I struggled to process the magnitude of what I had just done and seen, but I’m starting to see the good in what I did.”

Looking back, Riley says the CPR training he completed through TAFE Queensland made all the difference.

“The instincts and skills I learned from the course kicked in when I saw someone in need, and I surprised myself. I’ll forever look back and say that because of my training, I helped save that man’s life.”

For Riley, the experience reinforced the importance of first aid training for everyone.

“It’s a very important life skill, and I would highly recommend that others learn it. You never know when you might need to help save someone’s life,” he said.

As an aspiring cricket coach, the experience has also shaped how Riley views his future role in sport.

“It puts into perspective how quickly things can go wrong and how important it is to know what to do in high-pressure situations,” he said.

Riley hopes to one day work in cricket as a player, coach, or both - and says the experience has strengthened his confidence to respond when it matters most.