LIFESAVERS across Warwick district have been taught how to restart a heart.
Every pupil at Kenilworth School and Campion School in Leamington have been given CPR and defibrillator training to help people who suffer cardiac arrest.
Administration staff at Myton Hospice in Warwick, 2nd Warwick Sea Scouts and cubs in Barford were also shown the life-saving skill.
It takes the total taught CPR over two days to some 1,500, and over the past three years training has been given to more than 6,000 people.
Volunteers from Warwickshire Search and Rescue Team and Warwickshire Hearts, along with supporters from the community and local businesses, came together to offer training and support.
The CPR training has been spearheaded by charity Warwickshire Hearts, a collaborative project of Warwick District Community First Responders, Waterside Medical Centre in Leamington and ‘acts of kindness’ charity Evelyn’s Gift. It was set up to provide emergency response to the ambulance service in south Warwickshire.
Warwickshire Hearts chairman Nick Shacklock said: “This has been a great third year of our participation in Restart a Heart Day.
“From relatively small beginnings we have worked with lots of partners this year to deliver training. It just goes to show what can be achieved when like-minded organisations work together to a common purpose.”
And former Kenilworth School pupil and trainee paramedic Paul Rowlands, was one of those who carried out some of the sessions,
He said: “As a former pupil with some fond memories of the school it was a real privilege to teach a subject I’m so passionate about to so many bright, young, engaging faces that will hopefully now be able to make a difference to someone in cardiac arrest.
“A huge well done to all the teaching staff for their support but an even greater well done to all the pupils that actively took part.”
If a person suffers a cardiac arrest while out of hospital they have a less than one in ten chance of survival.
For every minute after their heart has stopped their chance of survival drops by ten per cent.
The UK is significantly below countries such as Holland and Norway where people have more than double the chance of survival.
Visit warwickshirehearts.org to find out more about the charity or to sign up to a CPR session.
