He clocked over that number with a CPR session for pupils at Timbumburi Public School near Tamworth, after having visited more than 150 schools in about eight years.

Mr McFarlane, a senior aquatic lifeguard at Gunnedah pool, developed his program for year 5 and 6 students, who he said were able to "grasp it very well".

"Some of the questions and answers on the day that come from the students are absolutely amazing," he said.

"I find physically they're competent, and mentally they're competent to take it in.

Mr McFarlane said he was "quite proud of the achievement and more proud of the young lives effected".

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He said variety and quick-change activities were some of the keys to keeping kids engaged for an hour.

He gives demonstrations on mannequins, has the students practise breaths, chest compressions and recovery rolls, runs a Q&A, then has a quiz with prizes.

Mr McFarlane said his efforts continued to have CPR skills made part of the primary school curriculum.

"It's going to be a long process, but we're going to keep lobbying and chipping away at it," he said.

Mr McFarlane has undertaken his mission with the support of Royal Life Saving NSW, plus local sponsorship and donations that have gone back into community lifesaving and water safety programs.

He's even taken his program to more than 700 students in eight schools in Vietnam.

"I developed the program after I had to resuscitate five people in five separate incidents within a two-year period," he said.

"I was able to help not [just] because I was there, but because I knew what to do."

Royal Life Saving NSW chief executive Michael Ilinsky said the organisation was "very proud of Cameron's work and commitment to turn everyday people into everyday lifesavers".

"This is a story of true Australian spirit. He is inspiring a generation of children and equipping them with important skills that can and do save lives."

Last year, 276 people drowned in Australia, 98 of them in NSW.