Originally from Tamworth, Cameron McFarlane has had a love of swimming from a young age.

"I became a lifeguard in 2003 and I've been one ever since basically," he said.

"In the 11 years I have been working with the Royal Life Saving Society I have needed to use my CPR skills to save a life six times.

"That is why I am so passionate about spreading the word."

For the past eight years, Mr McFarlane has been touring around the state delivering a program he developed targeting year 5 and 6 primary school students.

"During that time I have educated more than 30,000 students to develop their skills and knowledge of performing effective CPR," Mr MacFarlane said.

"I believe every child must be given the opportunity to develop this vital skill, and to be able to perform effective CPR around water and in the general community."

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Earlier this week Mr McFarlane conducted two sessions in Armidale: one at Armidale City Public School and one at St Mary's Catholic Primary School.

Next week he will go to Boggabri Primary and Sacred Heart Primary School then on to schools in Barrabra, Narrabri and Inverell.

"Country people have one of the highest statistics of drownings in backyard dams, creeks and rivers," Mr Mcfarlane said.

"Inland regions have a higher rate of drowning incidents than those on the coast, and there are still about 11 deaths per year in Australia from drowning at public pools.

"Which is pretty horrifying considering there are lifeguards on duty, but we are not babysitters and adults need to keep an eye on their children."

While some first aid trainers no longer teach breathing techniques as part of CPR, Mr McFarlane said it is still a very important part of CPR in the case of a suspected drowning.

"Royal Life still teaches the breathing while some trainers just teach compressions," he said.

"However, I have had to change my training with current COVID restrictions, so we are not blowing in the dummy's mouth in the current workshops.

"We are just doing the pistol grip, the nose pinch, and the head tilt."

Mr McFarlane stressed all parents and carers should familiarise themselves with CPR techniques - even if they don't do a certificate course.

"On the brink of summer with people queuing up to go to the coast, and to swimming pools, and stuff like that, I want to encourage parents, and even children, to learn the basics of CPR," he said.

Royal Life Saving's National Drowning Report 2020 shows that 248 people lost their lives to drowning between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020. And it estimates that a further 504 people experienced a non-fatal drowning incident that required hospitalisation.

More information on performing CPR can be found here