The Great Western Air Ambulance has helped 1026 youngsters across Bath & North East Somerset learn how to restart a heart over the last 12 months.
Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) launched its Great Western Heart Starters programme in October 2016, which is aimed at teaching secondary school pupils aged between 13 and 15 how to perform CPR, put people into the recovery position and how to use a defibrillator.
Since it was launched a year ago, five schools and the Bristol Children’s Hospital have signed up to take part, and 1026 young people have been taught life saving skills by 145 volunteers.
The Great Western Heart Starters campaign is delivered with support from GWAAC’s critical care team, doctors, paramedics, and UWE Bristol nursing and allied health professions students.
As part of the training, the young people are given the chance to practice their skills on specially adapted mannequins.
In support of European Restart a Heart Day, which takes place today, Monday 16th October 2017, GWAAC wants to encourage local schools to get involved in its campaign to teach as many young people how to perform CPR as possible.
Chris Hickey required the services of GWAAC in June 2017 after a sudden cardiac arrest at home. Speaking of his experience, he said: “I’m alive today because someone started CPR within a minute of my heart stopping. This gave time for the paramedics and GWAAC to get to me and complete the resuscitation process.
“If you see someone who has collapsed and who isn’t breathing, dial 999 and be prepared to give it a try. You can’t kill someone by doing CPR but people die if it isn’t done in time.”
Speaking about Great Western Heart Starters, volunteer Sadie Lupton said: “It gives me great pride to be part of an initiative that teaches people to save lives.”
Adding to this, GWAAC’s Head of Fundraising and Marketing, Emma Carter, said: “Early intervention is something that can make all the difference in a situation where a patient has gone into cardiac arrest and stopped breathing – it can help to save lives.
“We want to encourage as many schools and community groups to get involved with our Great Western Heart Starters campaign as possible, to help us build and equip a future generation of live savers in the region we cover.”
To find out more about GWAAC’s Great Western Heart Starters campaign, get in touch with Claire Harmer from the Fundraising team by calling 0303 4444 999 or email [email protected].
