From 9 a.m. on Wednesday morning, a queue formed on the steps of the Palais des Sports in Toulon. Not to see the champions of Hyères-Toulon Basket, the handball players of Toulon Métropole Var, or Toulon Élite Futsal… but to learn how to save lives!
On the floor, nearly 800 self-training cardiac massage mannequins are ready to receive 120 pressures per minute. Among the participants, 110 caregivers or nurses from the Red Cross in Ollioules, students from the Var Public Training Institute for Health Professions (IFPVPS), business leaders from the Team Phœnix network, middle school students from Django -Reinhardt and high school students from Bonaparte, and also families.
“It’s a collective challenge,” summarizes Odile, who came with around fifty colleagues from the National Military Social Security Fund.
“Save lives”
“I’m going to learn how to save lives. And it would also be Nice to break the participation record,” envisages Aubin, 9 years old, accompanied by his mother Émilie, a childcare nurse. During the first edition, in November 2023, the Palais des Sports in Toulon welcomed nearly 1,200 people. “We should reach 800 participants this morning,” hopes Alain Robert, organizer of the event and member of the PROTACC association (1).
“There are only 800 of us, but you will all leave with essential knowledge: that of multiplying by five the chances of survival of someone who has had an accident,” announces Laurent Bonnet, the sports assistant, who greets “a citizen act” and reminds that “only 30% of the population knows the actions that save”.
Stayin’ Alive
At his side, a man who does not run out of breath: Stéphane Mifsud, world record holder for static apnea (11 minutes and 35 seconds) since 2009, who came to sponsor the event. “Life is the most expensive thing on earth; giving it back is something exceptional.” Enough to motivate the participants, aligned and ready to massage to the rhythm of Stayin’ Alivethe Bee Gees’ hit.
Each participant was also invited to train in first aid, before leaving with an inflatable mannequin, offered by the event’s partners. Enough to practice before the holidays, in case Uncle Jean-Marc cuts his hand while opening an oyster, or Grandma Jeanne chokes on a piece of foie gras. Save a life, a great Christmas gift.
1. The record is still held by the City of Nice, which brought together 1,800 people in 2016.
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