Vénkert Primary and Basic Arts School has joined the Life-Saving Points network established by the Hungarian National Ambulance Service, becoming the first institution in this neighbourhood to do so. The school received its certificate on 16 October 2026, World Restart a Heart Day.

Andor Béla Tarsoly, the school’s headteacher, thanked the staff of the Hungarian National Ambulance Service for arranging the formal ceremony to coincide with World Restart a Heart Day. He also expressed his gratitude to local businessman Róbert Nagy, who personally donated a semi-automatic defibrillator to the school. The device was essential for the institution to qualify as a Life-Saving Point.

On the same day, the school’s teachers took part in a training course to learn CPR techniques and how to use the defibrillator if needed. To ensure that the device can be accessed as quickly as possible in an emergency, it will be kept at the school’s reception desk.

Dávid Ménes, head of the Debrecen Ambulance Station, senior ambulance officer and regional spokesperson for the Hungarian National Ambulance Service, was also one of the course instructors. He began by thanking the more than 50 teachers taking part in the training, which was delivered with the assistance of Dávid Simon, an ambulance care assistant and student paramedic; Tamás Petrik, chief ambulance officer for Hajdú-Bihar County; and László Szilágyi, an ambulance officer.

The Life-Saving Points network was established on the principle that when businesses and institutions are committed to ensuring the immediate availability of life-saving equipment in an emergency, they can acquire a defibrillator (or, as in this case, receive one through a donation) and the Hungarian National Ambulance Service will provide the necessary theoretical and practical training in its use. On completion of this process, the organisation can become a designated Life-Saving Point.

Vénkert Primary School is now Debrecen’s 28th Life-Saving Point, while a further 25 such points operate elsewhere in the county. This brings the total in Hajdú-Bihar County to 53, a figure unmatched elsewhere in Hungary.

Dávid Ménes emphasised that it is vital never to hesitate to approach someone in distress, particularly when equipped with the appropriate knowledge, and to do everything possible to help until the ambulance arrives. “The worst thing we can do is nothing,” he stressed. The head of the Debrecen Ambulance Station thanked the school’s leadership and teachers for taking part in the CPR course. He also thanked Róbert Nagy, who has once again donated a defibrillator to help expand the Life-Saving Points network.

Deputy Mayor Diána Széles recalled that the city began establishing its first Life-Saving Points several years ago through cooperation between the Hungarian National Ambulance Service, businesses and the local authority. “The COVID-19 pandemic brought home the importance of working together to protect ourselves against any threat to our health, with everyone doing whatever they can to help. We can never know when we ourselves might find ourselves in danger or need assistance. In such situations, it can be a matter of life and death whether there are people nearby who know how to help, are willing to help and have the courage to act. We, too, must be ready, willing and brave enough to help others,” she stressed.

The Deputy Mayor thanked the Hungarian National Ambulance Service for initiating the Life-Saving Points programme and for its indispensable work in continually expanding the network and raising public awareness of health and emergency response in the city. She also expressed her appreciation for the service’s selfless support through basic CPR courses and refresher training.

On behalf of Debrecen’s local authority, she presented Dávid Ménes with a certificate of appreciation, thanking him and all his colleagues involved for the ambulance service’s dedicated work, which she described as a mission. Their efforts have played a decisive role in bringing the number of Life-Saving Points in the city to 28, an outstanding figure by national standards. According to Diána Széles, this is further evidence that Debrecen is a caring city, where compassion and cooperation are alive and well. She pointed to the series of voluntary donations made by Debrecen businessman Róbert Nagy as one example of this community spirit.

Lajos Barcsa, Deputy Mayor and city councillor for the neighbourhood, also thanked everyone involved in establishing the first Life-Saving Point in Vénkert. He noted that Vénkert Primary School is much more than an educational institution for the neighbourhood. It regularly hosts a variety of community events and activities organised by the Move, Debrecen initiative. Through its cooperation with the Debrecen Sports Centre, it has also developed into something of a sports school. Becoming a Life-Saving Point is perhaps the most important new addition to the school’s wide-ranging activities, helping to protect the residents of Vénkert and the safety of thousands of people.

The ceremony concluded with Dávid Ménes presenting the certificate confirming the school’s designation as a Life-Saving Point, while Róbert Nagy handed over the donated defibrillator to Andor Béla Tarsoly, headteacher of Vénkert Primary and Basic Arts School.

Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu