Developing a Nation of Lifesavers -Teaching CPR in schools
Last week I wrote about ‘Restart a Heart Day – Loved ones save Lives’. I quoted the Resuscitation Council who says that of the 60,000 cardiac arrests a year the majority are suffered at home, with 50% being witnessed by loved ones and some of these are witnessed by children. The British Heart Foundation have reported that approximately 22,000 people a year die from out of hospital cardiac arrest. If we develop a nation of lifesavers we could save 5000 people a year.
Almost a year ago I attended the Resuscitation Council’s Instructor’s conference. A presentation was made by Jas Soar, from the Resuscitation Council, about teaching children CPR. There is evidence to show that in countries where they teach CPR to their children that survival rates improve. Unfortunately in the England it’s not part of the National Curriculum so it isn’t taught routinely. Instead it is up to school leaders to invite trainers or staff to teach the children in their school if they wish. It’s a shame as we’ve just gone through a major review of the national curriculum and it wasn’t included.
This doesn’t mean we can’t teach our children though and there’s lots of ways for them to access CPR training. You can read more about the national campaign to teach emergency life skills and create a nation of lifesavers with the ‘Call, Push, Rescue’ campaign from the British Heart Foundation. If you’re a school and don’t have a local trainer to come and help you deliver the training you can register for a free pack with all the equipment you need to deliver your own training.
Often youth groups such as guiding and scouts, sports clubs or cadet clubs will invite trainers in and schools can do this too. I’m willing to go into schools, in my local area, and teach children the basics of CPR and emergency skills and I’ll do this not-for-profit. We were asked at the Instructor’s conference to do this and I’m pleased to say that I already was. Therefore, if you are in contact with a local school or youth group and would like the children taught please get in touch. For these sessions I tend to stay local in Derbyshire, but I can also sometimes provide these sessions in East Cheshire, Staffordshire and South Yorkshire too.
If you need convincing then this story tells of how a 14 year old was saved by his friends from what they learnt in school and this story about a best man saving the bride’s father. Loved ones can save lives and for me this starts with changing our attitude and creating a nation of lifesavers.
Would you like to learn CPR?
Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss how to arrange for your group to be taught CPR or share this post with your school or group who may be interested.
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